MUSCATINE, Iowa — Victoria Gunyan said the 30-minute commute from Davenport to her job in Muscatine used to be the only downside to her job as a wholesale team leader at Muscatine’s HON Co.

But that’s changed.

Gunyan, who began working at HON in 2006, was one of the first people to climb aboard when the company launched a trial run of the Member Transportation Commute Program in August 2006.

The program provided HON Co. employees at the three plants, warehouse and office building on Oak Street with a $10 a week shuttle service to and from work. The workers board and depart River Bend Transit buses at a central location in Davenport.

Sara Busha, human resources generalist for HON Co.,  said the program helps ensure a stronger workforce.

Of the company’s 2,159 employees, 14 percent come from the Quad-City region and  employee turnover from the Quad-City-based work force decreased by 38 percent after the program began.

When Gunyan began using the service, gas wasn’t $4 a gallon but it was becoming more expensive.

 “Needless to say, my gas bill each month increased 10-fold,” said Gunyan.

She added that the commuter  service also saves her money on car maintenance.

Busha said the program’s success inspired an expansion that began March 31. Transportation to and from work is now provided to the HON Co. Oaksteel, Oak Laminate and Geneva plants, the central region distribution warehouse, along with the HON Co. sister company, Allsteel. The HON Co. and Allsteel are umbrella companies of HNI Corp., which has also been added to the commute program.

Since adding these sites, rider numbers have more than doubled to 270, Busha said, with both corporate and hourly employees using the service.

Based on estimates using a price of $4 a gallon for gas, Busha said commuters can save at least $50 a week.

Josh Ginther, 26, of Geneseo, Ill., said he saves $125 a week in fuel costs and he needs every penny. “I have three kids, and I’m making it, but we’re struggling,” said Ginther.  

Temporary employees are also eligible for the program.

Busha said the program may expand to include pickups in  Iowa City and Burlington.

Consideration is also being given to adding stops in the Quad-City region in Moline and Rock Island, Ill., and Bettendorf.

Kathleen Stillmunkes, a member and community relations assistant for the HON Co., said  the program is a direct link to job accessibility for some people.

“Some members may not have been able to work here if they didn’t have the shuttle,” she said.

Nicholas Bender of Davenport said the program makes it possible for him to afford transportation to Muscatine.

“It costs me $20 a day to drive or $10 a week to jump on the shuttle,” said Bender, 19.

The commuter service also impacts the environment, taking 270 cars off area roadways.

 

Busha said HON Co. received a $375,997 grant from the Iowa Clean Air Act to conduct the program for a full year.

The service is contracted through River Bend Transit, a private, not-for-profit Davenport-based organization that receives federal and state public transit assistance funding.

The program began with $179,000 in Job Access Reverse funding. That funding has since run its course and the Iowa Clean Air Act grant kicked in.

In addition to the other advantages the program provides, Karen Arens of Bettendorf said not having to drive is a stress buster.

“I drove back and forth to HON for five years, said Arens, 57, who began using the program in April. “Now, I don’t know how I did it.”

Arens said the program will be especially welcome this winter when ice and snow make driving difficult.

“Last winter, I asked to take a vacation day the day before big storms were predicted,” she said. “Now I won’t have to use those days for bad weather.”

Reporter contact information

Cynthia Beaudette 563-262-0527

cynthia.beaudette@muscatinejournal.com