Understanding the Program
Step One: Understanding the Program
Many of Westchester County’s employers and building owners and managers are realizing that traffic congestion is a growing problem having negative impacts on the business community and our quality of life.
The Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation has developed Westchester’s Smart Commute program to alert both employers, building owners and managers and their employees and tenants of various strategies to increase the use of transit and other alternatives in order to help reduce drive-alone commuting.
Over 100 employers are enrolled in the program and receive free commuting benefits for employees and others traveling to their location, including:
- Transportation Information Fairs that can be held at your work site
- The $Commute-n-Save Program$ that gets employees to work using pre-tax salary dollars, and saves employers on payroll related taxes
- A Commute Information Rack with restocking service to make transit schedules available at your location
- Worksite survey and "Go Green" commuting plan tailored to the needs of your worksite, and enabling your employees to reduce their carbon footprint
For more information about the program or to become a member, call (914) 995-4444.
What is a work site Smart Commute program?
A Work Site Smart Commute program is an array of strategies implemented at an employment location that are designed to promote and encourage employees or tenants to consider and use alternatives to driving-alone to work.
To be most effective, the program should enjoy management support from the very top. Additionally, a staff person at the work location should be assigned Smart Commute program responsibilities that only needs to be just a part of his or her assigned work.
What are commute alternatives?
Commute alternatives are the various ways of getting to and from work. Employees at your work site select the way they commute based on their work hours, location of the work site, the nature of their work, the need to do personal errands and, of course, the cost.
Employers can help employees find a smarter way to get to work with the help of Westchester’s Smart Commute program which can provide employees with specific information about transit, carpooling, vanpooling and other options.
Employers can also sponsor programs such as telecommuting, alternate work schedules, a guaranteed ride home program, and incentives to promote commute alternatives.
Why commute alternatives?
Growing traffic congestion threatens our quality of life. Traffic congestion is a major problem nationwide as frustrated businesses and commuters waste an astonishing $72 billion in fuel and time each year. Traffic congestion can waste energy; delay the delivery of goods and services; result in employee tardiness; create stress; pollute the air and raise the cost of both living and doing business in our county.
Benefits of a Smart Commute program at your work site
Studies show that employer involvement greatly improves the use of commute alternatives among employees. Everybody wins.
Your company or organization wins through:
- Improved employee productivity
- Improved morale
- Easier recruitment and retention
- Reduced parking and office space needs/costs
- Reduced absenteeism and late arrivals
- Public recognition as a good corporate citizen
Your employees win through:
- Reduced commuting time and expense
- Reduced wear and tear on personal vehicles
- Less stress
- Productive use of time while taking transit or ridesharing
- Flexible work schedules and arrangements
Our community wins through:
- Easier travel on streets and highways
- Increased economic vitality
- Economic development benefits
- Reducing our carbon footprint
- Improved overall quality of life