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According to Stephan Sylvan, U.S. EPA Office of Transportation
and Air Quality, "the number of commuters getting to work in
low-stress, low-polluting ways like bus/rail, vanpooling, carpooling
and telecommuting would probably double if every employer in the
region qualified as a Best Workplace. Experience to date indicates
that for every 1,000 commuters offered these benefits, about 200
will make the switch from driving alone. The Best Workplaces for
Commuters program is already reducing the traffic and air pollution
associated with more than 100,000 rush hour cars."
Best Workplaces for Commuters is a joint project of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Business
coalitions and other sponsoring organizations are partnering with
EPA to promote the initiative. Many of them support it with additional
programs, such as Commuter Solutions Month, The Commuter Challenge,
The Commuter Solutions Toolkit and others.
Organizations that currently provide their employees with commuter
programs may already qualify for the program. Qualifying benefits
include transit passes, vanpool subsidies, flex-place/telecommuting
programs and others that encourage employees to use them instead
of driving to work alone.
Of course anyone can reduce the cost and stress of commuting, by
using more fuel-efficient vehicles and maintaining them properly,
car-pooling, driving or commuting at less-congested times, moving
closer to the workplace, using public transportation when it is
available and convenient, or even bicycling or walking to work.
Transit systems generally offer programs to help commuters find
a better way than driving alone. Unfortunately, many people find
it hard to break the conventional driving habit. Fortunately, as
the word spreads, people are looking for more ways to do so; breaking
the habit is much easier for people whose employer is one of the
Best Workplaces for Commuters.
Qualified companies say it means fewer employees bringing the stress
of traffic congestion into the workplace and to their customers
and fellow employees. It means more productive workers who also
feel better about their employers. For many employers it may bring
significant savings in parking facility expenses and in employee
recruiting and turnover costs.
For employees, Best Workplace programs reduce the stress in their
lives and the stress they bring home to their families. Another
major benefit is a substantial saving in transportation cost. Employees
in the programs are often able to leave their cars at home a few
days a week, saving vehicle wear and tear, reducing their fuel and
maintenance costs and, in many cases, reducing their auto insurance
premiums. These benefits are tax-free for both employers and employees!
As word spreads about the Best Workplaces designation, more employers
are expected to join this voluntary program. They will quickly recognize
its "win-win-win" scenario --- the employer, employee
and the environment all win!
Best Workplaces for Commuters is only one of several programs to
reduce risks in communities. All of these programs are part of what
EPA is doing to reduce mobile air source toxics. By 2010, EPA's
existing programs will reduce these toxics by more than one million
tons from 1996 levels. Knowing the importance of "walking the
walk," and not just "talking the talk," EPA Region
6, Dallas TX, also is certified as a Best Workplace for Commuters.
The Texas Department of Transportation has its own 30-item Menu
of Clean Air Actions, not part of the Best Workplaces program, but
a concerted effort by this large agency to work for cleaner air
in its own operations across the state. The Department also has
a program to help drivers in general, Drive Clean Across Texas.
The Drive Clean website (listed below) has links to clean air programs
in cities throughout Texas, and in other states, including New Mexico
and Oklahoma.
Results so far (EPA March 2004)
Providing coverage for more than 1.5 million employees nationwide,
the Best Workplaces for Commuters program has reduced the number
of miles driven by U.S. commuters by more than 7.5 million a day,
saving more than $3 million in car maintenance and fuel costs. Every
year it also saves 60 million gallons of gasoline, enough to fill
88 Olympic-size swimming pools. The program has prevented the release
of 837,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which has the same
impact as recycling more than 2.5 million tons of paper, and eliminated
the need for more than 200,000 parking spaces, which would cover
more than 2.5 square miles of land.
Advantages for Best Workplaces firms
Organizations earning the Best Workplaces for Commuters designation
will be recognized locally and nationally for being great places
to work, be viewed as leaders in employee benefits and gain a competitive
advantage in recruiting and retaining the best workers. They also
demonstrate commitment to their employees, the community and a clean
environment, and have happier, more productive workforces.
For more information -
Best Workplaces For Commuters
Mobile Air Source Toxics
Texas
Department of Transportation Clean Air Action Plan 
Drive Clean Across
Texas
Information
current as of September 2, 2004
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