HNTB selected for primary management position on Georgia Commute Options

Atlanta — The Georgia Department of Transportation awarded HNTB Corporation the overall manager position for an innovative transportation demand management program, Georgia Commute Options. GCO was established to give commuters and employers in the state transportation choices beyond driving and to reduce air pollution, saving Georgians more than $500,000 per day on gas and vehicle maintenance expenses.

The program aims to raise awareness of new commuter transportation options, including teleworking, vanpooling and carpooling. To date, more than 1,600 employers and 100,000 commuters in greater Atlanta have used its services. Greater Atlanta boasts one of the largest TDM markets in the country, with the eighth largest registered vanpool program in the United States and reducing daily Atlanta traffic by an estimated 1.1 million cars.

“Georgia Commute Options is a vitally important program that is prolonging Atlanta’s infrastructure lifespan, preventing large amounts of carbon emissions saving Georgians thousands of dollars,” said Jeff Parker, HNTB Atlanta office leader and GCO program manager. “HNTB is proud to support GDOT in its groundbreaking transportation demand management efforts.”

The GCO program management contract, led by HNTB as the prime manager, consists of three units:

• Awareness/Communications Unit – This unit oversees advertising, marketing, public relations and other programs, including Smog Alerts and Clean Air School Pool.
• Sales/Outreach Unit – This unit separates lead generation from account management to provide customized attention to employers.
• Implementation/Operations Unit – This unit is responsible for tracking and distributing the cash incentive programs, ride matching and vanpool/carpool formation.