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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	12/09/2019
Subject: ACCEPT report on Employee Commute Survey and RECOMMEND ACCEPTANCE by Board of Supervisors.
Submitted For:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Department:	Conservation & Development
Referral No.:	N/A
Referral Name:	N/A
Presenter:	Jody London, DCD	Contact:	Jody London (925)674-7871

Information

Referral History:

The County is engaged in updates of its General Plan and Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP Update includes County Operations. A primary input to greenhouse gas emissions from County Operations is employee commutes, which comprise nearly 45 percent of all emissions from County operations.

Referral Update:

As part of the CAP Update, staff worked with 511 Contra Costa to conduct a survey of County employees regarding how they travel to and from work. This survey was conducted in July and August 2019. The survey found that most employees drive alone and are spending 40-45 minutes on average commuting each day. Two-thirds of County employees would consider alternatives for their work commute, particularly telecommuting and carpools. Primary factors that inform current commute choices are travel time, cost, and flexibility. While a small percentage of County employees taking the survey drive electric vehicles currently, over half are considering purchasing an electric vehicle, and 75 percent would like the County to install electric vehicle chargers at County facilities. The survey report is attached.

The survey finds that County employees, although supportive of adopting alternative commute modes, are not committing to these options because they are not as convenient as driving alone to and from work. In the comments portion of the survey, many respondents indicated that they would be interested in telecommuting options and carpool options. Such programs would be effective ways for the County to reduce GHG emissions from employee commute trips. The report suggests that the County may want to explore options for telecommuting and workplace electric vehicle charging, as well as provide more information at the department level on commute alternative modes and incentives. The County policy on telecommuting was last updated in 1993. The report suggests the County may wish to revisit this policy in light of the survey results and current technological options.

The report also identifies areas for future research. The report suggests the County could further examine the data pertaining to electric vehicles, including perceived costs, range anxiety, adequate charging infrastructure, and other factors. Next steps may also include a cost-benefit analysis to compare the costs of electric vehicles or alternative commute modes to the drive-alone trips currently made by the majority of employees. This information could be used to help educate employees on the long-term cost and benefits of EV ownership or alternative commute modes.

The report also suggests the County could research opportunities for shuttles and other options that would facilitate employees using public transit. This research should include collaboration with other large employers in Martinez, such as Kaiser Permanente and the U.S. Veterans Administration Medical Center. Additional surveys, specific to the Martinez sites where the majority of County employees work, may be needed.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

ACCEPT report on Employee Commute Survey and RECOMMEND ACCEPTANCE by Board of Supervisors.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

None.

Attachments
2019 Employee Commute Survey