Whether it’s by bike, bus, or boat, the King County Employee Transportation Program (ETP) helps get you to and from work with a variety of resources while saving you money with your employee ID/ORCA card.

KCEmployees.com recently spoke to Tim Hams, the new ETP Manager and asked five questions to get to know him a little better.

What is your role at King County and when did you start?

Employee Transportation Program (ETP) Manager, effective September 30, 2023. I supported ETP for a couple years with the prior ETP Manager before his retirement earlier this year.

My five-year Metro anniversary is in January 2024.

What is your background in supported employment?

I have a long history working in customer service and started working for Metro as part of the Customer Information Office where I supported Metro customers over the phone, through email, and via social media channels. Soon after, I joined the ORCA Business Program and then the TDM team where I worked with employers, city jurisdictions, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to build larger programs and campaigns to expand Metro services and remove obstacles to riding transit. I have been fortunate to support the ETP program for a couple years now and look forward to growing the program to better serve our employees.

What will you be responsible for in your new role? 

Managing KC employee transportation benefits including ORCA Passport (covers fares on buses, commuter train, light rail, streetcar, monorail, foot ferries, water taxi, and flexible services), Vanpool subsidy, commuter incentives, Home Free Guarantee, pilot programs, and more. I am here to educate, advocate, and support employees with their transportation and mobility needs as part of their King County benefits package.

What is the biggest challenge in the role?

Reaching employees in this hybrid work environment and welcoming them back onto transit for not only commute trips, but also for personal use outside of work. Education and awareness of transportation benefits is a big step towards getting folks out of single-occupancy vehicle commute trips.

What do you most hope to achieve in the role?

I’d like to see more folks try public transit for their commute and understand the advantages that it can offer. It’s not only a great benefit that King County provides at no cost to the employee, but it can also be beneficial to your health, the environment, cost and time savings, and a relaxing way to get around without the hassle of parking and sitting in traffic.