Good for the environment, good for traffic flow and good for ConocoPhillips employees. These are the results of the company’s longstanding chartered bus service in The Greater Stavanger Area.

Every morning between 07:30 and 8:00, nine buses roll in to the parking lot at Tananger. They bring more than 200 employees to work at the company offices – from Jæren in the south to the Stavanger area in the north. This means that the percentage of ConocoPhillips employees who use public transportation is about 20 percent – which is unusually high in a national context.

The arrangement started in the 1970s and quickly evolved into a form that has remained mostly unchanged for three decades. At the peak of rush hour every morning, the buses leave the terminals in Bryne, Sandnes and Stavanger – and return at three different times after working hours. There is also an early bus from downtown Stavanger for those who want to start working at 7 a.m.

Cooperation
For a long time, this was a pure ConocoPhillips arrangement. In recent years, however, the company has cooperated with two other companies in the area, thus yielding even better utilization of bus capacity. The number of passengers varies somewhat according to the seasons and peaks during the winter months. When the cold sets in, bringing snow or icy roads, many choose to leave their car or bicycle at home and the buses tend to fill up.

The authorities strongly encourage more people to use alternatives to their private vehicles for work travel. Car traffic is one of the major sources of air pollution in cities and urban areas. The company arrangement is a good fit in this situation – as a supplement to public transportation. Less traffic on the roads and reduced CO2 emissions are two of the benefits.

Expanding the arrangement
Consideration is being given to adding more companies to this arrangement. The routes and departure times are adjusted from time to time based on settlement patterns and the traffic situation. A planned expansion of the toll system in the area also has an impact on the interest in using this unique arrangement.
The longer the commute, the more employees use the bus arrangement. The offices in Tananger are 13 kilometers from downtown Stavanger, 20 kilometers from Sandnes and 30 kilometers from Bryne in Time Municipality. Employees in the municipalities of Klepp, Sola and Randaberg also use the arrangement. All districts are covered in Stavanger Municipality, where the majority of employees live.

Honored with an award
The bus arrangement has received praise from outside the company as well. In 2013, ConocoPhillips received the Risavika award from the Stavanger Chamber of Commerce. ConocoPhillips received this award as a recognition of its longstanding commitment to developing the area since 1973. The company’s extensive chartered bus arrangement was emphasized as an important environmental factor.