The Community Transit event honors commuters and companies throughout Snohomish County and the city of Bothell that work to reduce traffic congestion and encourage transportation choices such as riding the bus, sharing a ride, bicycling or walking.
Community Transit receives funding to promote smart transportation options through innovative transportation programs. Choice Connections helps employers develop transportation programs at their worksites. The Curb the Congestion program promotes transportation options to residents and employees on seven of Snohomish County’s most congested corridors. In 2016, these programs prevented 645,306 drive-alone trips on our roads, and 12.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide from the air we breathe.
For their smart transportation choices, Community Transit honored this year’s winners:
• Curb the Congestion Champion of the Year – Jessica Bentem
• Smart Commuter of the Year – Chris Snow
Curb the Congestion Champion of the Year, Jessica Bentem
Jessica Bentem of Everett is dedicated to walking and riding the bus every single day, for both her commute to work and personal trips. Two years ago she made the switch by leaving her car at home to focus on a more healthy and active commute to work. Thanks to her dedication she’s lost
more than 40 pounds and loves feeling less stressed at work. Bentem has saved more than $700 and prevented more than 415 trips from our congested roads in 2016 alone.
VIDEO: Jessica Bentem’s commute story: https://vimeo.com/210639475
Smart Commuter of the Year, Chris Snow
Chris Snow of Seattle is an Emergency Department Technician at Swedish Medical Center in Edmonds. For more than 25 years she’s been dedicated to reducing air pollution and eliminating traffic congestion by riding her bike and public transportation
exclusively. In fact, she’s never owned a car and loves the stress relief that comes with choosing an active transportation option for her commute. Snow logged more than 48 trips by bike and bus in the third quarter last year and was chosen
from more than 50 other people nominated.
VIDEO: Chris Snow's commute story: https://vimeo.com/210639273
Community Transit also honored companies in Snohomish County and Bothell that work to reduce traffic congestion and encourage smart transportation choices.
Worksite Champions of the Year
To learn more about Choice Connections programs, including Smart Commuter Rewards and Curb the Congestion, please visit www.communitytransit.org/choiceconnections.