New Ridesharing Program Helps Penitentiary Employees Get to and from the Job

 

January 29, 2008

 

In the past, ridesharing may not have been all that popular in Walla Walla, but as gas prices rise, it’s quickly catching on and providing an additional incentive for people to work at the Department of Corrections. 

A new rideshare program at the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) is giving employees a more earth-friendly commuting option and is helping them save money on fuel and car maintenance. Making it less expensive to get to and from work is also helping DOC’s efforts to recruit more corrections staff. 

The ridesharing program has just entered its second month and is already very popular with employees. About 45 WSP staff members participated the first month. More are expected to join as vans from county transit companies become available.

“We wanted to have a rideshare to help staff save money,” says Ross Hamann, Human Resources Consultant and rideshare coordinator for WSP. “We are also finding that new DOC recruits are interested in working with us because this program is in place. Ultimately, this may help WSP employ a stronger and more consistent workforce.”

As WSP expands to add more beds, the recruitment effort is also expanding beyond the Walla Walla city limits. Employees now commute from as far away as the Tri-Cities to their jobs at WSP. To help with some of the costs that come with a commuter work force such as gas bills, vehicle maintenance, and insurance, the Human Resources Department at the prison implemented a Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) plan, commonly called rideshare.

Hamann participates in the program and says he saved more than $100 in fuel last month. He hopes other employees and communities will participate in Commute Trip Reduction so they can see the financial benefits first hand.

“Every little bit helps,” says Hamann, “Especially when gas is $3.20 a gallon.”

Other DOC worksites have active participation in CTR programs. Headquarters in Tumwater has nearly 100 employees who vanpool, carpool, walk or ride bikes to work. Barbara Monohan, Office Manager at the Seattle Metro office, says about 90 percent of employees at the building take part in the flex pass program offered through CTR. She also says the program acts as an incentive for perspective employees.

“Offering the CTR passes definitely helped our building with recruiting,” says Monohan. “Parking is difficult to find in Downtown Seattle, and this program all but eliminates the parking-spot-headaches for our staff.”

 

Divider image - horizontal green bar