Richard Bain, director of Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Directorate of Public Works, left; Chris Beck, JBLM’s DPW Environmental Division chief; Debbie Germer, Pierce County senior transportation planner; and Thomas Russell-Tutty, JBLM’s Garrison chief of staff, pose May 13 following Germer’s presentation to JBLM of a silver 2024 Best Commuter Business award from Pierce County at Garrison Headquarters.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Joint Base Lewis-McChord received a silver 2024 Best Commuter Business award May 13 from Pierce County, gaining recognition as a top-performing business that assists its workers – service members and civilians – in commuting sustainably.

The award benefits JBLM “because it shows the community that we are serious about making improvements,” said Jaimie Wharton, compliance branch chief for JBLM’s Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division. “The more we are able to rideshare, the less that we are congesting I-5.”

In 2019, Ride Together Pierce created the county’s Best Commuter Business leadership program and began awarding bronze, silver and gold designations to eligible businesses. JBLM has won the silver award four times – 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The program was on hold for the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021, according to Debbie Germer, Pierce County senior transportation planner.

“The award designates JBLM as a leader in helping their employees use sustainable transportation commute modes,” she said.

In accordance with the state’s Commute Trip Reduction Act, employers are required to maintain a Commute Trip Reduction program if they have at least 100 full-time workers commuting between 6-9 a.m. to a single worksite at least two weekdays, for at least 12 continuous months.

JBLM’s strengths in 2024 that led to the silver award included service members and Department of Defense employees being able to “ride the bus or vanpool for free, (and) some locations have carpool and vanpool parking,” Germer said.

Service members and civilians living off-base in Pierce County are able to use the free vanpool program for their commute to JBLM or Camp Murray. Those interested can register at https://ridetogetherpierce.com/FormCenter/Ride-Together-Pierce-Forms-10/JBLM-vanpoolcarpool-request-form-103.

In addition, the GO Transit system can be used for on-base transportation, and bicycles are available at the 373rd Training Squadron, Field Training Detachment 12 on McChord Field, she said.

The bikes are rented for free to detachment students for easy transportation, said Staff Sgt. Gershom Angeles, 373rd TRS.

Another of JBLM’s strengths that led to its 2024 silver award was the work done by its employee transportation coordinators, who inform employee passersby at event tables of their commute options, Germer said.

To go for the gold in 2025, JBLM can “keep up the great work to get the word out to employees and attend networking and training opportunities,” she said.

The benefits of sustainable commuting are experienced by employers, employees and Pierce County, Germer said.

For employers, “offering different ways for their employees to get to work is a great way to attract and retain top talent, reduce employee parking demand and demonstrate environmental responsibility,” she said.

For employees, sustainable commute methods “can reduce stress from one’s commute,” and workers using those options “are more likely to be healthier (especially if they are walking and biking), arrive at work on time and be more productive,” Germer said.

And for Pierce County, benefits include “reduced traffic congestion on our roads, less air pollution and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and healthier communities and safer neighborhoods,” she said.

The base’s silver award also further strengthens ties between the county and JBLM. They began working together in 1993 and, in 2014, “we helped you put in place a GO Lewis-McChord program, so that’s where your GO Shuttle came from,” Germer said.

That collaboration was recognized in 2017 with an Army Community Partnership Award.

“The award recognizes partnerships between Army installations and and surrounding communities for their collaboration and overall efforts to improve readiness,” according to a JBLM Northwest Guardian article, published Nov. 30, 2017.

“We’ve had a very positive partnership with JBLM over the years,” Germer said. “And so, it’s just great to continue our work with them.”

Those with questions about JBLM vanpooling can contact usarmy.jblm.id-readiness.list.dpw-edpr1@army.mil.