2009 Triangle Commuter Awards and SmartCommute Challenge Results Revealed
Posted: 06-26-2009 : RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.

Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Results of the 2009 SmartCommute Challenge along with the winners of both the Challenge and the Triangle Commuter Awards were celebrated at a program emceed by NBC 17’s Donald Jones at the RTP Headquarters today. The event was held jointly by presenting sponsors GoTriangle and SmartCommute@rtp.This year, approximately 11,070 Triangle commuters and 113 employers participated in the Challenge, saving more than 77,300 gallons of gas and reducing carbon emission by 773 tons. Additionally, 90 percent of individuals surveyed after the Challenge report they plan to continue their greener, ‘smartcommute’ at least one day per week.

The Triangle Commuter Awards were presented in categories honoring companies and individuals around the region for leadership and achievement in using alternative commute options. Awards included: Go Chapel Hill awards, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill awards, Smartcommute@rtp awards, Downtown Raleigh awards, North Carolina State University Wolftrails awards, North Raleigh awards, Durham County Commute Trip Reduction Program awards and the newest Triangle Area Best Workplaces for Commuters designation.

The 3,928 respondents to SmartCommute Challenge follow-up survey reported eliminating over 56,000 drive alone trips, saving more than 77,000 gallons of gas and avoiding more than 1.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Prizes included two grand prizes of $2,500 cash, a laptop computer valued at $1,500 and two customized commuter bikes from BASF and The Bicycle Chain. In addition, a special team challenge was launched in 2009. Season tickets to the Railhawks and a $50 gift card were awarded to a past Challenge participant who had the greatest carbon reduction.

“I have wanted to ride my bike to work on a regular basis, unfortunately, my house is a distance from my job,” said Dwight Otwell, who lives in Cary and works in downtown Durham. “The SmartCommute Challenge motivated me and a friend from work to drive halfway to work, park our cars and ride the last 10 miles on our bicycles. I have kept riding about twice a week since the Challenge.”

The SmartCommute Challenge, an annual non-profit public service campaign aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality in the Triangle, began April 15 and ended May 30. The Challenge, coordinated by GoTriangle and SmartCommute@rtp, encouraged commuters and college students who worked or attended classes in Durham, Wake or Orange Counties to try a smarter, greener commuting alternative, such as riding the bus, carpooling, vanpooling, teleworking, biking or walking.

“On behalf of GoTriangle and other presenting sponsors, we would like to thank the partners, volunteers and, most of all, the Triangle commuters who make the SmartCommute Challenge and the Triangle Commuter awards such as success,” said David King, general manager of Triangle Transit, a GoTriangle partner and presenting sponsor of the SmartCommute Challenge. “We are proud to honor the businesses and commuters who help us raise awareness about lifestyle changes people can make

that have a huge impact on the region and make area commuters think twice about their commutes and choose to try a greener alternative,” said King.

The following is a complete list of 2009 Triangle Commuter Awards winners:

Go Chapel Hill Awards
Community Leadership Award, University Mall Commute Challenger Award, Chapel Hill & Carrboro Bike Shops Commute Achievement Award, Jim and Patricia Huegerich, Town of Chapel Hill employees

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Commuter Awards
Commute Challenger Award, Amy Preble, Recycling and Outreach Coordinator
Commute Achievement Award, UNC Hospital

SmartCommute@rtp Awards
Commute Challenger Award, Trina Dorcheus, Monsanto
Commute Achievement Award, Jim Miller, RTI International

Downtown Raleigh Commuter Awards
Community Leadership Award, Progress Energy
Commute Challenger Award, Robynne McCrary, NC Dept. of Crime Control & Public Safety
Commute Achievement Award, Linda Bullock, NC Dept. of Labor

North Carolina State University Wolftrails Awards
Commute Challenger Award, The Office of Sustainability at North Carolina State University
Commute Achievement Award, Dr. Steven P. Washburn, North Carolina State University

North Raleigh Commuter Awards
Community Leadership Award, Duke Realty
Commute Challenger Award, Recreation Equipment Inc. (REI) of North Hills
Commute Achievement Award, Rex Healthcare

Durham County Commute Reduction Ordinance Awards
Best of the Best Award, Durham County Government
Best of the Best Award, Duke University & Medical Center
Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year, Sheba Holman, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina

Best Workplaces for Commuters
Self Help Credit Union of Durham

For more information on transportation services in the Triangle region, visit www.gotriangle.org, or to learn more about the SmartCommute Challenge, visit www.SmartCommuteChallenge.org.

About SmartCommute@rtp
SmartCommute@rtp is the transportation management association (TMA) of The Research Triangle Park. Its purpose is to coordinate the transportation demand management (TDM) efforts of RTP employers to address common transportation concerns, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. SmartCommute@rtp currently has 27 member employers, which account for over 80% of RTP employees. SmartCommute@rtp is staffed by the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, developer and manager of The Research Triangle Park. For more information, visit www.SmartCommute.org.

About GoTriangle
As a regional transportation resource, GoTriangle coordinates the services of local and regional public transportation providers with a goal to provide a more seamless transit system for people traveling between cities and counties in the Triangle region. All GoTriangle’s services are provided through the GoTriangle family: Raleigh’s CAT, Cary’s C-Tran, Chapel Hill Transit, Durham’s DATA, Triangle Transit and NC State University’s WolfLine. Additional details are available at www.gotriangle.org.

About Triangle Transit
Triangle Transit is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit, paratransit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Hillsborough, RDU International Airport, Research Triangle Park (RTP) and Raleigh. For more information, visit www.triangletransit.org or call (919) 485-RIDE.

Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor: News & Observer

Gold Sponsors: BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, Cisco, Durham Bulls, RTI International

Silver Sponsors: BASF, Bayer CropScience, Capital Area Transit, GSK, NetApp, Progress Energy, Raleigh Downtowner, RBC Bank

Bronze Sponsors: Eisai, Inc., The Bicycle Chain
Green Sponsors: 2Plus, Burt’s Bees, Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Great Outdoor Provision Company, Larry’s Beans, NC GreenPower, REI, Southern Environmental Law Center, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Tri-Properties

For more information, please contact:
Brad Schulz, 919-485-7434, bschulz@triangletransit.org