The area’s largest commercial property owners met today with King County Executive Ron Sims to discuss what the business community can do to relieve traffic congestion and improve regional transportation.

The roundtable’s host, Equity Office, received praise from Sims for working with King County Metro Transit to craft an innovative transportation incentive package now offered to tenants in the 54 buildings Equity Office owns and manages in Seattle, Bellevue and Renton. Sims then challenged other property owners to find ways to offer commute alternatives to their tenants.

"I think we all agree that the status quo is unacceptable," Sims told the property owners. "We don’t need to wait until we figure out mega solutions to our mega transportation problems. We can do what Equity Office has done – we can work on these transportation problems one business at a time."

To kick-off the roundtable discussion, Equity Office unveiled its new Transportation Incentive Package (TIP), which offers tenants a discount on Metro FlexPasses.

The FlexPass is good on all Metro Transit and Sound Transit service, and includes VanPool, carpool, and Flexcar options. The Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) and Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) will promote the program through building-wide transportation fairs at each of Equity Office’s 54 office buildings.

"This initiative is a excellent example of city organizations working together for one cause," said Pat Callahan, senior vice president, Seattle region for Equity Office. "The TIP provides a cost-effective way for customers to travel to work and will alleviate traffic congestion.

"We predict that up to 1,500 people could be moved out of their cars and into public transportation during the program's first year. Employees who now drive to work could save up to $7,200 per year, and those who pay for their own FlexPasses could save up to $1,600 per year," said Callahan.

Metro hopes Equity Office’s transportation incentive package for its customers can be a model for other property owners in the region.

Additional participants in today’s roundtable were representatives from Bentall Capital US, Inc., Unico Properties, Inc., Benaroya Capital Co., LLC, Hines G. S. Properties, Inc., and Schnitzer Northwest, LLC – all among the largest commercial property owners and managers in the region. They talked about transportation solutions that could be implemented at their buildings and identified some of the challenges.

Kate Joncas, president of the DSA, said the partnership aspect of the program is a key component.

"The Downtown Seattle Association, as a partner in the Urban Mobility Group, is committed to finding ways to increase access and awareness of the importance of transit to the vitality of the region," said Joncas. "The Equity Office Transportation Incentive Package is a great example of how the business community can play a key role in helping meet the transportation challenges we face. Our relationships with Metro and the business community will help this program succeed."

Leslie Lloyd, president of the BDA, said her organization sees a lot of potential for similar incentive programs on the Eastside.

"The Bellevue Downtown Association is excited to be partnering with Equity Office, as we leverage Metro and Sound Transit’s significant investments in downtown Bellevue and the Eastside," said Lloyd. "Programs like this will help support business efforts to encourage transit and ridesharing."

Sims closed the discussion by challenging other property owners and managers.