2008 North Bay Transportation Summit, NBLC Motivates Business Community
Employers Take Action
April 2008
On April 25, NBLC offered employers and their employees who were concerned about the worsening congestion, a forum to gain more insight and take action. The 2008 North Bay Transportation Summit brought together leaders from the major transportation agencies in Marin and Sonoma County as well as the Bay Area. Over 200 attendees gained the following at the summit:
- Obtained the most up to date information on the widening of Highway 101 and how the construction will affect commute.
- Heard from County Supervisors on what they are doing to help their constituents address global warming through transportation changes.
- Learned best practices for commuter programs from organizations recognized as North Bay leaders.
The summit brought education and awareness to the business community and general public about Marin and Sonoma County's approved and funded transportation improvement projects, congestion solutions on the horizon, the consequences of taking no action, and a sharing of best practices by organizations dedicated to being a part of the solution by implementing employee commute programs and incentives. Covering both Marin and Sonoma County, this summit focused on new laws that will spur employers to adopt best practices to reduce commutes and incent employees to get out of their single passenger cars. The three panels included ten speakers from top North Bay transportation agencies.
NBLC is committed to action around regional issues, and this summit was the first in an ongoing series of discussions around improving transportation in the North Bay. After the summit, employers had the opportunity to sign up for intensive workshops on such topics as telework or how to implement an employee commute program. NBLC believes that these ongoing workshops will give business the appropriate tools to be a part of the solution when it comes to alleviating congestion on the 101 corridor in Sonoma and Marin Counties.
As the only organization of employers, educational institutions and non-profits spanning Marin and Sonoma Counties, NBLC is committed to regional prosperity and quality of life in the North Bay. NBLC's top priority is improving transportation, especially for commuters. The gridlock on the highway in both counties has a negative impact on the recruitment and retention of qualified employees. It hinders the productivity of businesses in the region by causing a loss of man-hours when employees are stuck in traffic and increases green house gas emissions.