HuffPost What's Working Honor Roll: What Every State Can Learn From Washington's Program To Reduce Drive-Alone Commutes

As journalists, we dutifully report on what's going wrong, from scandals and corruption to natural disasters and social problems. But far too often the media fails to show the whole picture, neglecting to tell the stories of what is working. From scientific breakthroughs to successful crime-reduction initiatives, the What’s Working Honor Roll highlights some of the best reporting and analysis, from a range of media outlets, on all the ways people are working toward solutions to some of our greatest challenges.

The Atlantic: How Washington State Convinced Big Companies to Dramatically Reduce Drive-Alone Commutes

seattle highway traffic

A photo of Seattle's northbound traffic on Interstate Highway 5 taken on August 8, 2007.

While efforts to encourage carpooling and other, more environmentally friendly forms of transportation among workers have increased in recent years, the majority of Americans still drive to work alone. The environmental effects of single-occupant vehicle commuting have proven to be incredibly damaging, as well as the mental and physical health effects of traveling alone.

Washington state seems to have found a solution. The state's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) program has been called "a model for the nation." CTR works directly with large employers to develop new programs that will reduce the number of employees driving to work alone. The program is nearly 25 years old and has significantly cut drive-alone commutes, which then reduces traffic delays and congestion, pollution, speeding, energy waste and carbon emissions.

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If you know a story you think should be on our Honor Roll, please send an email to our editor Catherine Taibi via catherine.taibi@huffingtonpost.com with the subject line "WHAT'S WORKING."

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