PPC provided program planning and management support to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) program, a voluntary program sponsored by the Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ). The BWC program works with companies around the country to provide commuter benefits to employees (e.g., carpooling, mass transit passes) and is considered a key component of the President's Climate Change Program to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions.

A Planning Strategy for the BWC Program.

The initial focus of this voluntary program was to maximize the number of companies and employees recruited to participate. To accomplish short-term recruiting goals, several strategies were employed by the staff, resulting in the program's rapid growth. However, no overall organization or planning for the program had been documented, preventing management and staff from having the tools necessary to make strategic decisions.

PPC reviewed background documents and interviewed staff to gather program information. Using that information, PPC then created a program plan to provide a comprehensive overview of the Best Workplaces for Commuters national voluntary program, including short-term and long-term program implementation strategies. The plan represents a common vision of the program adopted by management and staff.

Technology to Support Planning.

Additionally, PPC created a BWC Planning system, using a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software, Microsoft Project and WBS Chart Pro. The system, installed on the EPA network, serves as a common platform for all BWC staff to update program management information, including schedule, milestones, deliverables, budget, and staff responsibility.

Both the program plan and planning system serve as key tools for the BWC Program for short and long-term planning and tracking program progress. Each tool has improved internal communication and has fulfilled management and staff information needs. Furthermore, information in the program plan and the planning system will be critical components of annual budget justifications for the BWC program.