Missoula In Motion honors employers for transportation best practices

Missoula In Motion presented its 2006 Transportation Best Practices Awards to the Rocky Mountain Research Station Fire Lab, Mod West and Homeward at an awards event in Missoula, recognizing employer programs that expand biking, walking, bus use, carpooling and telecommuting.

The recognition highlights employer efforts to reduce parking demand and increase transit and active-transportation use in Missoula. Chase Jones, program specialist for Missoula In Motion, said two winners received the main awards and a third received a new "continued excellence" award paired with $500 to support workplace transportation programs.

The Rocky Mountain Research Station Fire Lab received an award for sustained efforts to make transit and other options viable despite its location about 10 miles from downtown. The Fire Lab appointed a staff public-transit coordinator to help employees enroll in the Forest Service transit subsidy that provides a free Mountain Line pass for frequent riders, subsidized vanpools for areas without bus service, and onsite education sessions with Missoula In Motion. Fire Lab employees also organized funding to build a bus shelter near the facility. Jenny Newton, who accepted the award for the Fire Lab, said, "It's been great working with you guys and, it's been a lot of fun...we're really excited about this."

Mod West was honored for workplace culture and management practices that make commuter choices easier. Owner Steve Sondheim said the company's downtown location, owner leadership by example and simple policies—such as allowing employees to bring bikes inside and participating in Bike Walk Bus Week—helped embed commuting alternatives in daily routines. "On behalf of everyone at Mod West, it's a great honor to accept this award," Sondheim said.

Homeward received a new award for continued excellence after building on last year's efforts. Chase Jones said Homeward implemented a residential EZ Pass program that gave tenants bus access and logged more than 1,500 rides in its first year. Jennifer Betts, accepting the award, thanked employees and residents and said the program's success depended on their participation.

Organizers noted past prize practices: previous winning employers received $1,000 and television spots; the 2006 program added a $500 continued-excellence award. Missoula In Motion also debuted longer employer-profile videos produced with KECI to promote best practices to other employers throughout the year.

The event included brief civic remarks. Mayor Engen praised the collaborative approach, saying transportation "is one of three things I hear about every day in my job," and County Commissioner Bill Carey attended as a county partner.

Organizers closed with outreach announcements: attendees were asked to complete sign-in sheets and were invited to join an employer challenge during Bike Walk Bus Week, a competitive program that pits similar-size municipal employers against one another for prizes. Chase Jones said sign-up information and entry forms were available at a table in the back of the room.

While the awards celebrate local employer initiatives, organizers emphasized practical steps—shelters, subsidy coordination, flexible schedules and storage—to make transit and active commuting more accessible for workers and residents.