Over 200 Employers Recognized at 2016 ECO Awards

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016

Today, MassCommute, MassRIDES and the Baker Administration celebrated more than 220 Massachusetts businesses, colleges, and universities at the sixth annual Massachusetts Excellence in Commuter Options (ECO) Awards ceremony. Attendees were recognized for their efforts in promoting active, healthy, and sustainable travel options.

The event, held at historic Fenway Park, brings together businesses and institutions from across the Commonwealth that provide innovative programs and resources to encourage employees to travel by public transit, carpool, vanpool, bicycling, walking, or even teleworking. This year’s event recognized the largest number of employers to date.

“Massachusetts continues to be an innovator in promotion of shared use of infrastructure on roadways,” said Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary and CEO, Stephanie Pollack. “By establishing numerous policies to emphasize consideration of all travel options when designing roadways, MassDOT has helped to reduce the amount of emissions put forth by single-occupancy vehicles throughout the Commonwealth.”

The ECO Awards are hosted by MassCommute in collaboration with MassRIDES, the Statewide Travel Options Program and MassDOT. MassRIDES and MassCommute actively support over 700 employer partners and member organizations across the Commonwealth in an effort to reduce drive-alone trips, while encouraging employees to travel by public transit, carpool, vanpool, bicycling, walking, or teleworking.

“It’s important to recognize the role employers play in influencing employee commuting,” said MassRIDES Director, Diane Hanson. “Because of these employers, MassRIDES and MassCommute are able to actively work with thousands of commuters to reduce vehicle emissions, traffic congestion, and commuting costs.”

MassCommute Executive Director, Julia Prange Wallerce, echoed this sentiment, “We’re excited to have new and returning employers at this year’s sixth annual ECO Awards. This awards ceremony is a great way to call attention to the efforts of these employers, as they continue to showcase their innovative commuter options initiatives.”

The awards ceremony celebrated the efforts of over 220 MassRIDES and MassCommute partners. Eight employers were recognized for outstanding accomplishments, including:

Leadership in Commuter Options

• MIT Lincoln Laboratory: Vanpool
• University of Massachusetts Boston: Walk
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Transit
• Digital Lumens: Bicycle
• Massachusetts General Hospital: Carpool

Leadership in Commuter Engagement

• Worcester State University: Employer Transportation Coordinator

Rising Star

• Six Flags New England

Leadership in Innovation

• Eastern Bank

The ECO Awards Ceremony is presented with sponsorships from Eastern Bank, Taza Chocolate, Ride Systems, vRide, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, NuRide, Lyft, Edenred, AECOM, Ride, TransAction Associates, 128 Business Council, and Charles River TMA. The generous support of these sponsors allows for greater recognition of sustainable transportation efforts throughout the Commonwealth.

Thank you to our sponsors and congratulations to this year's ECO Award winners!

View event program for complete list of award categories and winners