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Description
Recognition of Suburban Employers with Exemplary Commuter Programs & Commuter of the Month winners.
A
Now,
for
the
extra
fun
part
of
our
program
will
be
giving
a
recognition
to
outstanding
employer
commuter
programs,
as
well
as
to
champions
and
individuals,
as
well
as
commuters
of
the
month.
With
that
as
a
program
that
we
started
a
couple
years
ago
to
recognize
people
who
make
tremendous
effort
to
do
something
other
than
drive
along
on
a
regular
basis
and
the
first
award
that
we
have
is
for
our
partner
city.
The
city
of
Bloomington
Bloomington
was
a
founding
member
of
the
494
Quarter
Commission,
which
is
not
why
they're
winning
an
award
from
us.
A
Promoting
alternatives
to
driving
alone
on
a
regular
basis
both
to
their
residents,
to
their
employees
and
to
the
business
community
and
just
to
give
a
little
bit
of
flavor,
we
hold
annual
bicycle
checks
with
them
in
the
spring.
It's
very
much
something
that
their
employees
look
forward
to,
and
we
do
the
same
for
the
community
in
Bloomington
at
REI
in
the
spring
each
year
and
recently,
in
this
past
year,
the
city
has
implemented
a
very
successful
telework
program,
and
so
we
we
have
a
very
nice
of
word
for
you,
mr.
B
Commuter
services
recognizes
the
city
of
Bloomington
for
your
dedicated
efforts
and
success,
promoting
transportation
options
that
reduce
traffic
can
yes
tchen,
and
this
is
from
commuter
services.
So,
on
behalf
of
commuter
services
and
494,
Carter
Commission
I'd
like
to
present
this
to
the
city
of
Bloomington,
mister
Bulaga.
Would
you
come
up
and
we're
seeing
that.
C
A
D
Next
award
goes
to
Park
Nicollet,
they
recently
enrolled
in
the
Metro
Pass
Program
that
I
talked
about
earlier,
and
they
have
almost
9,000
eligible
employees
for
that
program.
In
the
metro
area,
they
have
a
great
program
called
be
well
and
we
partner
with
them
to
do
fairs
and
farmers
markets
to
promote
our
resources
through
those
events,
they
promote
sustainable
transportation
through
nine
green
teams
and
they
conducted
a
very
comprehensive
Green
Team
survey
about
commuting
habits
at
Methodist
Hospital,
which
was
very
enlightening
and
helped
them
craft
their
resources
and
programs
going
forward.
D
C
B
D
Next
employer
award
goes
to
u.s.
bank
earlier
this
year.
There
was
big
location,
relocation
from
several
buildings
and
Bloomington
and
other
spots
in
the
metro
area
to
a
new
site
in
st.
Louis
Park,
and
it
meant
a
quite
impactful
commute
change
for
employees.
They
were
closing
down
one
of
their
buildings
and
u.s.
bank
was
very
proactive
in
wanting
to
do
communications
and
computer
fairs
to
help
their
employees
ahead
of
the
move.
D
They
installed
ample
carpool
parking
at
their
new
building,
and
they
also
offer
metro
pass
and
financial
incentives
for
employees
who
vanpool
and
take
transit,
and
that
is
a
long-term
financial
commitment
that
they've
made
over
the
years.
They
offer
also
bike
racks
and
for
use
of
showers
and
lockers
and
for
their
Meridian
crossings,
complex
switches
across
the
highway.
Here
they
even
purchase
bike
racks
for
their
garage
for
winter,
bikers,
which
is
pretty
great,
so
I'm,
very
happy
to
honor
US
bank
and
to
have
Cindy
Owen
come
up
and
accept
the
award.
B
D
Okay,
next
very
happy
to
honor
quality
bicycle
products.
They
just
have
an
outstanding
commute
benefit
program
that
includes
providing
three
dollars
a
day:
incentive
per
employee
for
bicycle
commuting,
riding
transit
and
carpooling.
They
have
indoor
bike,
racks
and
dedicated
lockers
as
well
as
showers.
They
also
manage
their
own
carpool
parking
program.
They
have
a
really
great
benefit
as
well
that
provide
commutes
of
six
round
trips
a
month.
It
earns
the
employee,
a
$10
contribution
to
their
HSA
account
and
if
they
make
12
round
trip
by
commutes
in
a
month,
it
earns
them
a
$15.00
contribution.
D
They
also
have
a
commuter
bicycle
league,
so
they've
weekly
challenges
that
are
throughout
the
company
and
the
incentive
is
the
competition
for
this.
They
have
monthly
Bike
to
Work
days
where
they
earn
double
incentives.
They
have
on
average
225
employees
or
20%
of
the
Bloomington
workforce.
That
participates.
They
also
have
a
program
where
they
connect
new,
bikers
with
seasoned
riders
and
an
internal
email
group
for
sharing
routes
and
tips
for
Viking
and
other
commuting
options.
So
congratulations
to
quality,
bicycle
products
and
Jeff
Valin
is
going
to
come
up
and
accept
the
award.
B
D
Sorry
next
award
comes
to
Eaton.
They
have
a
very
long
term
commitment
to
promoting
alternative
commuting
amongst
their
workforce.
They
launched
their
program
in
2003,
with
the
purchase
of
their
headquarters,
building
on
lone
oak
and
Eden
Prairie,
and
they
host
a
transportation
day
during
world
environment
week
in
June.
They
recently
started
a
flex
work
schedule
that
includes
telework,
and
they
offer
commute
information
for
new
hires,
which
is
a
great
way
to
to
help
new
hires
get
the
information
and
they
also
recently
put
in
electric
vehicle
charging
stations.
B
G
You
keep
every
great
things
about
you,
so
just
mine.
Thank
you
so
much
for
the
partnership
and
as
a
power
management
organization.
You
know
the
electrical
vehicle
charging
stations
that
we
just
put
in
this
year
has
been
such
a
great
opportunity
for
our
place.
So
thank
you
for
all.
You
do
to
help
us
be
sustainable.
D
And
next
we're
going
to
award
Normandale
Community
College,
they
offer
transit,
passes
for
students
and
staff
and
just
do
an
amazing
job
to
promote
sustainable
commuting
to
campus.
Just
this
year
they
started
offering
metro
pass
to
their
staff,
but
for
many
years
they've
offered
the
college
pass
similar
to
Metro
pass,
but
for
called
their
students.
They
invite
us
to
the
first
week
of
their
fall
and
spring
semesters
and
student
orientations
and
resource
fairs.
H
And
take
classes
haven't,
or
paths
and
college
paths
which
we
started
several
years
ago.
We
subsidize
that
pass
and
they're
a
very
reasonable
price
for
the
whole
semester.
As
Kate
mentioned,
we
just
started
the
Metro
pass
real
recently.
I
was
a
little
apprehensive,
because
I
didn't
think
we
did
the
five,
because
we
were
kind
of
coming
late
to
the
game
and
we
had
no
problem
whatsoever.
Doing
that
and
we
got
lots
of
people
actually
want
to
participate
in
that
sense.
So
thank
you.
D
D
So
this
is
a
program
that
we
started
a
few
years
ago
just
to
recognize
commuters,
who
have
a
real
commitment.
It
might
be
a
unique
story
about
how
they
got
to
drive
a
loan
less
and
do
more
sustainable
ways
of
getting
to
work,
and
it's
been
a
great
honor
to
to
meet
so
many
commuters
and
learn
about
why
they
do
what
they
do
and
and
some
of
their
unique
stories.
So
we're
going
to
recognize
some
of
the
more
recent
commuters
of
the
month
in
the
last
couple
of
years,
so
our
first
is
Wanda.
D
Dolla,
hang
Wanda
has
been
walking
to
work
for
three
plus
years.
Besides
getting
a
workout
on
her
way
to
work
to
United
Health
Group
in
Minnetonka,
she
loves
the
cool
quiet
mornings
and
the
occasional
turkey
that
likes
to
join
her
on
her
walk.
As
Wanda
says,
he
can't
get
that
on
a
treadmill
treadmill.
So
Wanda.
Could
you
come
up
and
accept
your
award.
D
And
next
we
have
Annie
Christensen.
She
is
a
vample
driver.
At
Cargill.
Annie
has
been
battling
for
hutchinson
for
eight
years.
That's
120
miles
round-trip
each
day,
even
with
two
young
children.
She
makes
sampling
work
and
she
says
it
actually
really
works
well
with.
Even
if
you
have
young
kids,
so
Thank
You,
Annie.
I
I
That
you
plan
to
join
half
of
the
way
into
the
city
you
haven't
read
the
pre
read
for
your
meeting
and
you
need
to
respond
to
a
couple
of
emails.
Quick
before
you
hit
the
office.
The
roads
are
icy
and
you
know
that
the
ramp
on
394
will
be
backed
up
today
for
sure,
since
you're,
in
a
hurry
breakfast
on
the
road
is
a
must,
but
let's
be
real.
It
is
every
morning
your
to-do
list
begins
to
overwhelm
you
and,
as
you
open
the
door
and
greet
yes
another
morning
commute.
I
I
Looking
back
over
the
past
eight
years,
I
could
share
with
you
that
I
have
reduced
greenhouse
gases
by
joining
my
colleagues
and
eliminating
Ford
cars
off
the
road
driving
a
million
miles
less
than
if
I
were
to
have
driven
alone
or
that
I've
saved
approximately
twenty
seven
thousand
nine
hundred
and
fifty-six
dollars
in
gas
money,
not
to
mention
that
I
have
not
had
to
buy
or
maintain
a
personal
commuter
vehicle.
How
about
the
24?
Less
oil
changes
that
my
colleagues
and
I
have
avoided
in
the
past
eight
years.
I
Instead,
what
I
would
like
to
share
with
you
is
my
passion
to
put
an
end
to
distracted
driving
in
January
marks
the
two-year
anniversary
of
Cargill,
taking
a
stand
on
distracted
driving
by
implementing
a
no
cellphone
policy
when
driving.
This
is
one
way
that
we
can
Minister
minimize,
distracted
driving,
but
I
challenge
you
as
business
leaders,
community
partners
and
industries.
We
can
do
more.
I
According
to
the
Minnesota
Department
of
Public,
Health
and
Safety
over
the
last
five
years
in
Minnesota,
distracted
or
inattentive
driving
is
a
contributing
factor
in
one
in
five
crashes,
resulting
in
an
average
of
53
deaths
and
216.
Serious
injuries
each
year,
buses,
trains,
vanpools
and
education
is
just
some
of
the
ways
as
a
communicative,
we
can
make
a
difference
as
a
mother
of
two
and
a
young
business
woman
I
know
that
I
am
not
the
only
one,
naturally
distracted
due
to
a
lack
of
sleep
work
or
family
demands.
I
Let
me
tell
you
a
story
of
my
morning
commute
it's
5:20
a.m.
when
I
see
a
Metro,
Transit
van
pool
drive
up
my
quarter
mile
long
farm
driveway
in
Hutchinson.
The
van
is
warm,
and
my
colleagues
immediately
greet
me
with
a
pillow
and
a
smile
I
sleep
for
a
few
minutes
before
I
begin
prepping
for
my
morning
calls
that
I
participate
while
riding
in
the
van,
though
the
roads
are
icy.
We
are
there
together
and
a
hot
spot
will
surely
accommodate
any
minor
delays
or
last
when
minute
work
preparations.
I
The
fellowship
of
friends
immediately
calms
my
mind
and
I
lean
into
another
day
living
my
dream
of
working
for
a
global
company,
headquartered
60
miles
from
my
house,
while
raising
my
children
in
our
farm
family
farm.
Please
continue
to
share
the
power
of
great
organizations
represented
here
next
time.
Someone
at
the
office
asked
you:
how
can
you
possibly
use
computing
alternatives
to
your
crazy
work
schedule
tell
them
your
story
and
the
reasons
why
you
choose
commuter
services.
We
all
have
a
part
in
saving
lives
by
promoting
safe
community
and
options.
D
Thank
You
Annie,
our
next
commuter
of
the
month,
is
actually
two
commuters:
Tim
Hunicke
and
Todd
Quist.
They
started
carpooling
together
30
years
ago,
and
gas
was
95
cents
a
gallon
hard
to
believe
through
the
years
they
logged
their
savings
and
each
of
them
save
have
saved
about
sixty
thousand
dollars.
Todd
and
Tim
would
still
be
carpooling
today,
but
Tim
is
now
enjoying
his
retirement.
D
D
Next,
with
michael
green,
who
is
a
year-round
bike
commuter
and
he
works
at
the
city
of
Minnetonka
Michael's
truck
broke
down
in
2016
when
he
realized
he
could
bike
full-time.
He
donated
his
truck
to
charity.
Just
so
awesome
Michael
gets
support
from
his
employer
and
he
uses
the
williston
fitness
center
to
get
ready
after
his
ride
in
and
he
can
store
his
bike
at
City
Hall.
D
And
then
we
have
Martin
Thomas.
He
is
a
bike
and
transit
rider
who
works
at
Cigna.
In
Eden
Prairie.
We
met
Martin
at
an
Earth
Day
event
sponsored
by
his
employer.
He
made
an
impression
because
he
made
a
unique
life
choice
to
go
car
free,
Martin
benefits
from
saving
about
fifty
eight
hundred
dollars
a
year
by
taking
transit
and
biking
to
work
in
the
winter.
Martin
takes
Southwest
Transit
to
work.
It
gives
them
time
to
read
and
write
poetry
and
listen
to
music,
and
then
he
bikes
in
the
warmer
months,
Thank
You,
Martin.
D
And
then,
lastly,
we
have
Tonya
Schneider
she's
a
bike
commuter.
She
works
at
aged
ID,
global
Tonya,
received
assistance
from
commuter
services
on
how
to
bike
to
work,
including
route
planning
and
gear
recommendations.
I
think
we
came
on
site
several
years
ago
and
did
you
know
a
lunch
and
learn
about
biking
to
work
and
did
a
commuter
fare
and
you
have
great
amenities
at
work
as
well,
which
which
helps
you
out.
D
And
then
our
most
recent
commuters
of
the
month
for
October,
they
are
bike
and
carpool
buddies
and
they
work
at
thermo
king
grant,
Baumgardner
and
Bryan
Keeton
heating.
Fine
that
biking
with
a
co-worker
gives
them
motivation
to
ride
when
they,
maybe
rather
sleep
in
and
biking,
doesn't
take
much
more
time
than
driving,
especially
with
construction
related
traffic.
So
we.
C
D
D
Now
we
have
our
champions
Awards
and
our
first
champion
award
goes
to
Richfield
bike
advocates.
They
are
a
group
of
residents
that
ensures
that
Richfield
resident
stay
informed
about
street
projects
and
opportunities
to
make
things
better
for
vice
clean.
They
impacted
improvements
to
several
streets
in
Richfield
in
the
last
few
years.
They
also
represented
Richfield
bicyclists
to
the
Transportation
Commission
and
they
hold
education
events.
D
Our
next
champion
award
goes
to
Bloomington
bicycle
alliance,
so
they
work
tirelessly
to
advocate
and
support
safe
biking
in
Bloomington.
They
do
outreach
that
to
garner
feedback,
they
engage
residents
to
voice
concerns
and
they
provide
bike
safety,
education.
They
also
meet
with
the
Richfield
advocates.
They
work
with
partners
with
city
staff
in
Bloomington
on
the
annual
bicycle
friendly
community
application
and
open
streets
proposal
that
they're
working
on
for
2019,
which
is
exciting.
Congratulations
and
Judy
Jones
accepted
the
award
for
Bloomington
bicycle
ride.
D
We
have
an
individual
champion,
Cindy
Owen
from
US
Bank.
She
is
a
facility
manager
in
the
corporate
real
estate
division.
She
was
part
of
that
relocation
effort
that
I
mentioned
before
she
was
highly
motivated
to
assist
employees
with
their
move
and
very
proactive
to
get
lots
of
carpool
parking.
She
also
manages
the
purple
parking
at
Meridian
crossings
and
she
just
enthusiastically
promotes
commuter
resources
to
her
employees
and
we're
very
happy
about
your
partnership.
Thank
you.
D
And
our
last
champion
award
goes
to
Stephanie
Peterson
with
Eaton
I've
worked
with
Stephanie
for
many
many
years.
She
has
been
promoting
community
initiatives
at
Eaton
since
2003.
She
helps
fulfill
Eaton
sustainability
goals
with
their
annual
world
environment
Week
activities.
In
this
past
year
she
expanded
to
all
three
buildings
with
her
commuter
fares
and
she
installed
the
electrical
vehicle
charging
stations
she's.
Just
a
great
strong
advocate
for
commuting
programs,
Thank
You
Stephanie.
B
Thank
you
so
much.
We
have
a
number
of
legislators
that
we'd
like
to
recognize
for
all
of
their
efforts
in
promoting
and
transportation
commuting
and
options,
and
so
I'm
not
sure
all
of
them
are
here
today,
but
senator
Melisa
Franzen
has
done
a
great
job
with
with
helping
us,
Senator,
Melissa,
Wicklund
and
I.
Think
Senator
Wicklund
is
here
is
yes,
there
come
on
up
please.
So
thank
you
for
all
of
your
dedicated
work
on
behalf
of
your
constituents
and
all
the
constituents
in
the
state.
We
really
appreciate
it
so
much.
Thank
you.
J
Thank
you.
I
really
appreciate
the
recognition,
but
I'm
mostly
really
happy
that
we
were
able
to
to
get
make
progress
on
this
project
and
see
it
moving
forward
in
the
next
couple
years.
It'll
create
some
challenges,
I'm
sure
for
people,
but
I
think
it'll
all
be
worth
it
and
really
look
forward
to
seeing
the
improvements.
Thank
you.
B
K
K
Doesn't
happen
by
magic,
of
course
it
happens
with
local
effort,
private
effort
and
my
state
efforts,
so
we're
going
back
into
session
in
January.
So
we
welcome
all
of
you
to
be
a
part
of
the
conversation,
the
efforts,
of
course,
the
resources
to
the
T
M
O's,
but
also
the
other
kinds
of
services
that
are
so
Roza
transit.
My
options
are
preventative
initiatives,
so
thank
you.
B
B
Next,
we
have
a
Jennifer
loon,
a
representative,
Jennifer
loon
I,
don't
think
I've
seen
her
to
here
today,
but
we
want
to
applaud
her
for
all
of
her
efforts.
Representative
Paul,
Rosenthal
I,
don't
think
is
he
here,
I,
don't
think
so
and
representative
Paul
torkelson
and
representative
Frank
Hornstein.
All
of
these
representatives
at
the
state
level
really
helped
us
with
with
our
efforts,
and
there
was
many
efforts.
I
know.
B
I
I
personally
testified
many
times
before
the
Senate
transportation,
the
House
Transportation
and
Finance
Committee's,
and
they
are
all
very
respectful,
listened
intently
and
they
really
came
through
for
us.
So
we
really
appreciate
all
of
their
hard
work
and
effort
on
behalf
of
the
state
and
the
metro
area.