'Best Workplaces for Commuters' Challenge for St. Louis employers

The American Lung Association, Citizens for Modern Transit, RideFinders and the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership have teamed up with the US Environmental Protection Agency to offer this employer-provided commuter benefits program in the St. Louis region to recognize those employers who have voluntarily taken significant steps to promote alternatives to driving alone for the work commute. With single occupancy vehicles as the biggest source of air pollution, here is your chance as an employer to make a difference. Many companies in St. Louis are already making a difference with transportation benefit programs at their worksites with the help of Citizens for Modern Transit. Meet the companies in St. Louis who have met the national standards for the Best Workplaces for Commuters program.

Are your employees arriving to work late and frustrated because of traffic congestion? Is your company paying excessive fees to maintain or lease parking spaces for employees? Is the summer air in your city getting easier to see and harder to breathe?

If you are an employer that answered yes to one or all of these questions, you should consider becoming a Best Workplace for Commuters. First and foremost are the cost savings for employers participating in transportation benefit programs through reduced payroll taxes and parking expenses.It has been proven that employers can save thousands of dollars by offering employee transportation benefit programs.

Other benefits include reduced parking demand, increased employee job satisfaction, enhanced recruiting and retention, improved community relations and national recognition as an environmental leader.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a Web-based Tax-Savings Calculator that enables employers and commuters to calculate their tax savings. The calculator will estimate a company's financial, parking and environmental benefits. Companies who are also considering the EPA's Best Workplaces for Commuters Initiative can determine if their commuter-program is eligible to qualify for this national recognition.

An employer can enroll online in the Best Workplaces for Commuters Challenge. It is simple and free to participate but provides significant benefits to the employer, employees and the community. For additional information, visit the EPA's website on Best Workplaces for Commuters. Employers can begin programs in the Midwest through the Midwest Commuter Choice Program as well sponsored by the US EPA Region VII office, Citizens for Modern Transit, and MARC.

Employer checklist to see if you are eligible for Best Workplaces for Commuters:

Must provide the Guaranteed Ride Home Program for employees who use alternative modes of transportation. This program is FREE for an employer in St. Louis to provide through Citizens for Modern Transit. Register online or call 314.231.7272 for more information.

Employers must offer at least one of the following benefits: Tax-free transit passes, a $30 subsidy or more for transit passes per month Tax-free vanpool benefits, a $30 subsidy or more. Telecommuting, a telecommuting program with at least 6% participation rate Parking Cash out, offer cash payments to employees in lieu of parking space.

Must offer at least 3 of the following: (Employers with fewer than 20 employees may provide one or more options to be eligible): Ridesharing or carpool matching Pre-tax transit or vanpool benefits Parking cash out less than 75% of the actual parking benefit Shuttles from transit stations Parking at park-ride lots or vanpool staging areas Provision of intelligent commuting information Preferred parking for carpool/vanpoolers Reduced parking cost for carpools/vanpools Employer run vanpools or subscription bus programs Employer assisted vanpools Secure bicycle parking, showers, or lockers Electric bicycle recharging stations Employee commuting awards programs Discounts and coupons for bicycles for bicyclists Compressed work schedules Telecommuting Lunchtime Shuttles Incentives to encourage employees to live closer to work On-site amenities i.e. convenience store, cafeteria On-site transit pass vendor Educational program on alternatives to driving alone Request more information on the programs.

Exceed a minimum level of employee participation by 18 months. Fourteen (14%) percent of employees must take alternative transportation for the work commute by the 18 month anniversary of joining the program.. These alternatives can include public transportation (bus or train), carpool, vanpool, bicycling, walking, or telecommuting. This percentage can also include employees who take advantage of compressed or flexible work schedules.

Have a designated central point of contact for alternative transportation information - an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) - at the worksite. This person is typically located in the human resources department and is responsible for handling the day-to-day activities of the transportation benefit program.