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'Best Workplaces
for Commuters' CHALLENGE
As
of August 1, 2001, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the
US Department of
Transportation
established a National Standard of Excellence for employer-provided
commuter benefits. Many companies in St.
Louis are currently working on transportation benefit programs
at their worksites with the help of Citizens for Modern Transit.
Why
should an employer be concerned with meeting the standards?
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Traffic
congestion causes an annual loss of $40 billion to US businesses.
IF all US public transportation commuters drove instead that
loss would increase by over 37%, The
Benefits of Public Transportation, APTA
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There
are several reasons for an employer to be concerned about these
standards. First and foremost are the cost savings
for employers participating in Commuter Benefit programs through
reduced payroll taxes and parking expenses.It has been proven that
employers can save thousands of dollars
by offering employee commuter 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 Commuter Choice Leadership 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 employers,
employees and the community. See a profile of those companies that
are Commuter Choice Champions
with their commuter benefit programs. 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.
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Here
are the requirements for an employer to meet the National
Standard of Excellence:
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| Each
employer must provide the Guaranteed Ride
Home Program for employees who use alternative modes
of transportation. This program is FREE for an employer
to provide. |
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Employers
must offer at least one of the following benefits:
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Employers
must also provide three additional commuter benefits from
the following options (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.
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