OCTA recently participated in an event to honor some of Orange County’s top rideshare programs at the regional Diamond Awards Ceremony that took place in Los Angeles on May 22, 2013. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), and Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) came together to create the Diamond Awards as a means to recognize and thank top employers who improve mobility, reduce pollution and traffic congestion through their exceptional rideshare programs.
Employers recognized by OCTA included, the City of Anaheim, University of California Irvine, LPS Default Title & Closing, and Irvine Ranch Water District. An honorable mention award was given to Oakley.
OCTA awarded the highest honor, a Corporate Blue Diamond Award, to Irvine Ranch Water District whose goal was to boost their rideshare rate using a strategy which focuses on new hires, while also expanding their vanpool fleet. They have increased interest in their programs by incentivizing employees to rideshare. Irvine Ranch Water District, Employee Transportation Coordinator Jane Shafer has said, “We need to be resourceful and utilize every opportunity to spread the word of rideshare.”
The City of Anaheim was awarded the Diamond Award for Leadership in a Rideshare program. Employee Transportation Coordinator, Lolly Garcia, has created a well-rounded program where the incentives she creates make it easy for commuters to participate and feel like an important element in their rideshare program. A Diamond Award was also given to Lynn Harris with University of California, Irvine for Excellence in Rideshare Marketing. The UCI team goes above and beyond, by running more than 50 rideshare ads in the campus newspaper, creating outreach through radio interviews, giveaways at halftime shows at games, and educational outreach. UCI makes sure that people get the rideshare help they need by staying connected on and off campus. OCTA recognized LPS Default Title & Closing for its utilization of a rideshare program which has alleviated a shortage of parking spaces at their new building. Staci Harris with LPS has created a rideshare program using low-cost marketing strategies like e-mail alerts, carpool matching, and letting ridesharers earn points for prizes.
The Diamond Awards stand to acknowledge these employers and congratulate them on a job well done in their Rideshare programs in Orange County.
