COSTA MESA : District to Reward Car-Poolers, Cyclists

Employees at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s Bear Street office can earn half an hour off on Fridays or extra vacation time if they use alternative means of transportation to work during the next school year.

School board members approved an incentive plan this week that also offers employees at the site gift certificates for cash and bikes if they leave their cars at home and use other means to get to the office, at 2985 Bear St.

“Our goal is to cut down on pollution and do our share,” said Assistant Supt. Thomas Godley.

The plan is required by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which requires employers with 200 or more employees reporting to work between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. to adopt an alternative-transportation plan.

Godley said that about 225 people work at the Bear Street site, which houses food services, fiscal and informational services, transportation, maintenance and operations, warehouse personnel and the Sanborn Instructional Materials Center.

The district has set aside $18,250 for the incentives, which include subsidies for public transportation, preferred parking for car pools, bike lockers for cyclists, monthly drawings for $25-to-$50 gift certificates and semiannual drawings for bike gift certificates.

Participants who use alternative forms of transportation at least 60% of the year will be allowed to leave work half an hour early on Fridays or accumulate the time toward vacation.