FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHOENIX (October 28, 2009) - Maricopa County has been recognized by Valley Metro for a 2009 Clean Air Campaign Award as the most outstanding vanpool program in the Valley. The county’s program, with more than 40 vanpools and 380 participants, the largest of any corporate or government fleet in the Valley, was cited for its convenience, accessibility and cost efficiency.
In addition, Kim Michels, a Library District employee, was also designated as a “Champion for Clean Air” for her efforts in forming a carpool when her agency moved its offices from the Northeast Valley to downtown Phoenix. Three years later, the carpool is still going strong saving money, reducing pollution and alleviating commuter stress. The honorees were selected for trip their reduction efforts and commitment to clean air.
The county vanpools travel between county offices and points as distant as Buckeye, Anthem, Queen Creek and Surprise. The county provides an $85 monthly subsidy per employee, covering 100 percent of the costs. The estimated cost savings for all the commuters is $910,035 monthly, or $10.9 million annually, creating a green-house gas emissions reduction of 65,941,788 lbs. annually.
“The leadership of the Board of Supervisors and County Manager David Smith along with the high level of employee participation are responsible for the success of the program,” said Pat Soria, County Transportation Coordinator. “We were also recognized for our creativity and marketing efforts.”
Other county employees recognized for their clean air contributions were METRO lightrail and bus riders Tricia O’Connor and Rose Rubio, carpooler Pat Percival, vanpooler Wayne Butch and Sergio Perez, who moved closer to his job in order to walk to work.
The Clean Air Campaign awards program is sponsored by Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority, the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Arizona Departments of Environmental Quality and Transportation and the Maricopa County Air Quality Department.
Photo: From left to right, Wayne Eaton, City of Scottsdale Councilman and Valley Metro RPTA Board Chair, Kim Michels, of Maricopa County Library District and Dave Boggs, Executive Director, Regional Public Transportation Authority
# # #