Two Downtown Bellevue companies have earned recognition for their efforts to reduce commutes by employees and implement innovative transportation programs.

Commuter Challenge, a Seattle nonprofit working to improve regional mobility and protect the environment, will give drugstore.com and Oracle Corp. 2010 Diamond awards Friday in Seattle.

Drugstore.com, an online retailer with 245 employees at its corporate headquarters on 108th Avenue Northeast, won in the category of Outstanding Program Innovation.

Oracle Corp., with more than 350 employees at its downtown offices, won in the category of Innovative New Program for its efforts with telecommuting.

The city of Bellevue, through its Commute Trip Reduction and Commute Advantage programs, has worked with both companies to help them develop their respective plans. Also assisting were King County Metro and the Bellevue Downtown Association/TransManage.

Drugstore.com paid for annual ORCA transit passes, subsidized employees who joined a carpool or vanpool. It also implemented a $50 per month parking charge for employees and eliminated 54 parking spaces. As a result of its efforts, the company has cut the number or people who drive alone to work by 16 percent over the past three years

Oracle has taken a different tack to reduce commutes by encouraging its employees to work from home when possible. The company’s space-sharing strategy includes employees who work full-time from home, others who come to work only occasionally and 85 employees who “hotel,” or share seats with others at the office. The approach has allowed Oracle to combine offices and reduce its leased space.

For information on the array of travel options for employees, employers and others in Bellevue, visit this website, a one-stop shop for commute alternatives.