Listed below are a number of strategies that can be used to develop your “Work Site SMART COMMUTE Program”. To find out about how you can implement any of these plans contact us at (914) 995-4444 or e-mail
Guaranteed Ride Program: (GRP)
Guaranteed Ride Program
It happens. Emergencies and unexpected situations arise. If you work in Westchester County and commute sustainably by carpool, vanpool, public transit, walking or biking - you could be eligible for the free Guaranteed Ride Program (GRP) offered by 511NY Rideshare.
As a GRP member, if you need to leave work unexpectedly, and can't use your regular mode of commute, the 511NY Rideshare Guaranteed Ride Program will get you to your destination by Lyft, Uber, taxi or public transit - up to $400.00 in total ride credits per year (limits apply).
To see if you qualify, visit 511NYR.org/GRP or contact .
As an employer, promoting a Guaranteed Ride Program is a great way to encourage employees to improve their commute by ridesharing or switching to public transportation. For assistance bringing a rideshare or GRP program to your worksite, please contact .
Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits
Commuters can save up to $3,180 per year by using pre-tax dollars for commutation costs if they are getting to work by bus, rail, ferry, subway or eligible vanpool.
Management Support/Positive Attitude
This is an in-house requirement for any program to succeed. High-level management support helps to ensure employee confidence in a commutation program. Also, the manner in which a new program is conveyed can be the difference between success and failure. Maintaining an enthusiastic, helpful attitude is the best way to present potential commute alternatives to employees. Remember, Westchester’s SMART COMMUTE Program is voluntary for employees as well as employers, so employees should never be pushed into changing commute modes.
Parking Management Strategies
Parking strategies can be structured to provide incentives to employees who carpool or vanpool, or to encourage the use of transit. Measures can include parking charges, preferential parking for car and vanpools, reduced parking costs for car and vanpools, and reduced parking supply.
Incentives/Awards/Recognition
Incentives reward an employee's choice to use a commute alternative. Incentives may be small or large and may include TransitChek vouchers, preferred parking, free lunches, movie passes, oil changes, car wash coupons, days off, gift certificates, etc.
Most people enjoy being recognized for their efforts. A simple way to maintain employee participation in using commute alternatives is to reward them with certificates or awards of some kind for regular participation over an extended period of time. Employees can also be recognized in company newsletters, through designations such as “Commuter of the Month,” where the employee’s picture is posted in a common area, or an annual recognition lunch or picnic.
On-Site Facilities/Services
Provision of facilities like bike racks and showers and services such as postal, dry cleaning pick-up/delivery, banking, food services, sundry shops, direct payroll deposit, shoe repair pick-up, etc. will help eliminate the need for employees to drive alone.Local businesses are often willing to make arrangements with employers or building managers to provide these types of services.
Trip Planning Service for Individuals
Your employees can receive an Individual Trip Plan for their commute.; This Trip Plan details specific transit routes or other options. If appropriate, transit timetables are sent out with the Plan.
Ride Matching & Vanpool Organizing Assistance
You can host and schedule a meeting to bring 511NY Rideshare Westchester Representative to your work site! Employees can learn more about car and vanpooling, and on-site assistance can be provided in matching and organizing interested participants.
New Employee Commute Information Kits
You can obtain a supply of New Employee Commute Information Kits to distribute to newly hired staff. These kits contain detailed information about transportation services available to Westchester commuters.
Employer-provided Shuttles to/from Transit Stops
If the distance between your work site and nearby transit is too great for most people to walk, your organization may want to consider offering employees a shuttle to/from nearby transit stops or stations. A company-owned vehicle may be used for the service, or it may be contracted with a private bus operator. A list of private shuttle providers is available through Westchester’s SMART COMMUTE Program. by calling (914) 995-4444.
Marketing Your Program
There are a host of ways to market your “Work Site SMART COMMUTE Program including the following: newsletters, posters, e-mail blasts, fliers, transportation fairs, display racks, award events, etc. Upon your request, Westchester SMART COMMUTE Program can provide you with the two turn key services noted below.
Transportation Information Fairs
A Transportation Fair at your work site will be tailored to your location and may be as big or as small as you like. You may want to combine the Fair with another event, such as a Health Fair, Environment Day, or Site-Services Day. A representative from Westchester’s SMART COMMUTE Program will attend along with representatives from appropriate transportation providers. Tables will be set up in a common area of your work site, usually during lunch hour, and employees can learn about their commute options in a casual atmosphere. Westchester’s SMART COMMUTE Program will provide fliers to promote the Fair prior to the selected date and will set-up on the day of the event. To encourage attendance, employers often provide refreshments. It is that simple, fun and a valuable benefit; and it is free.
Commute Information Racks
Commute Information Racks are display units, large or small depending on your needs, that are filled with transit schedules and other commute brochures appropriate to your work site. Keeping your rack stocked and up to date is simple. This too, is a free service.
Since most GRH programs work on a voucher system, where arrangements are made with a transportation provider for billing, usage can be easily tracked. This can also discourage abuse since employees know that their usage is recorded. An alternative is to ask employees to pay the provider for the ride home and be reimbursed later. In either case, what is surprising to most employers is how little a GRH program is actually used. It is a remarkably effective and cost-efficient program for promoting the use of transit and ridesharing.
The $Commute-n-Save$ Program (Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits)
Tax-free commuter benefits, also known as qualified transportation fringes, are employer provided voluntary benefit programs that allow employees to reduce their monthly commuting expenses for transit, vanpooling, bicycling, and work-related parking costs. Monies used for these eligible expenses are excludable from gross income subject to federal taxes.
Management Support/Positive Attitude
This is an in-house requirement for any program to succeed. High-level management support helps to ensure employee confidence in a commutation program. Also, the manner in which a new program is conveyed can be the difference between success and failure. Maintaining an enthusiastic, positive attitude is the best way to present potential commute alternatives to employees. Our SMART COMMUTE team will work with you to properly and most effectively communicate your transportation program.
Parking Management Strategies
Parking strategies can be structured to provide incentives to employees who carpool or vanpool, or to encourage the use of transit. Measures can include parking charges, preferential parking for carpools and vanpools, reduced parking costs for carpools and vanpools, and reduced parking supply. Explore all your possibilities and work with dedicated professionals who can help solve your parking concerns.
Incentives/Awards/Recognition
Incentives reward an employee’s choice to use a commute alternative. Incentives may be small or large and may include MetroCards, train tickets, preferred parking and car wash coupons for those who rideshare, free lunches, movie passes, travel mugs, days off, gift certificates, etc.
Most people enjoy being recognized for their efforts. A simple way to maintain employee participation in using commute alternatives is to reward them with certificates or awards of some kind for regular participation over an extended period of time. Employees can also be recognized in company newsletters, through designations such as “Commuter of the Month,” where the employee’s picture is posted in a common area, or an annual recognition lunch or picnic.
On-Site Facilities/Services
Provision of facilities like bike racks and showers and services such as postal, dry cleaning pick-up/delivery, banking, food services, sundry shops, direct payroll deposit, shoe repair pick-up, etc. will help eliminate the need for employees to drive alone. Local businesses are often willing to make arrangements with employers or building managers to provide these types of services.
Trip Planning Service for Individuals
Your employees can receive an Individual Trip Plan for their commute. This Trip Plan details specific transit routes and other options available. If appropriate, transit timetables are sent with the Plan.
Ride Matching & Vanpool Organizing Assistance
You can host and schedule a meeting to bring 511NY Rideshare’s Westchester Representative to your work site! Employees can learn more about carpooling and vanpooling, and on-site assistance can be provided in matching and organizing interested participants. Click here to learn more.
New Employee Commute Information Kits
You can obtain a supply of New Employee Commute Information Kits to distribute to newly hired staff by contacting Westchester SMART COMMUTE Program. These kits contain detailed information about transportation services available to Westchester commuters as well as a free tote bag.
Employer-provided Shuttles to/from Transit Stops
If the distance between your work site and nearby transit is too great for most people to walk, your organization may want to consider offering employees a shuttle (usually a van) to/from nearby transit stops or stations. A company-owned vehicle may be used for the service, or it may be contracted with a private bus operator. A list of private shuttle providers is available here.
Marketing Your Program
There are a host of ways to market your “Work Site SMART COMMUTE Program including the following: newsletters, posters, e-blasts, fliers, transportation fairs, display racks, award events, etc. Upon your request, Westchester SMART COMMUTE Program can provide you with two complimentary and turnkey services noted below!
Just call (914) 995-4444 or e-mail
Transportation Information Fairs
A Transportation Fair at your work site will be tailored to your location and may be as big or as small as you like. You may want to combine the Fair with another event, such as a Health Fair, Environment Day, or Site-Services Day. A representative from Westchester’s SMART COMMUTE Program will attend along with representatives from appropriate transportation providers. Tables will be set up in a common area of your work site, usually during lunch time, and employees can learn about their commute options in a casual atmosphere. Westchester’s SMART COMMUTE Program will provide fliers to promote the Fair prior to the selected date and will set-up on the day of the event. To encourage attendance, employers often provide refreshments. It is that simple, fun and a valuable benefit; and it is free!
Commute Information Racks
Commute Information Racks are display units, large or small depending on your needs, which are filled with transit schedules and other commute brochures appropriate to your work site. Keeping your rack stocked and up to date is simple. This also, is a free service.
PAGE: https://transportation.westchestergov.com/calculate-commuting-costs
According to AAA, the national average per mile in 2016 was 0.571 dollars (57.1 cents) based on driving 15,000 miles per year. To figure out how much it costs you to drive to work, follow the simple formulas below:
|
______ (round trip miles) x 0.571 dollars per mile = _______ (round trip cost) |
|
______ (round trip cost) x 21 (working days/month) = _______ (total monthly cost) |
|
Scenario 1: Driving Alone vs. Carpooling |
|
Daily |
|
Monthly |
|
|
|
· Driving alone |
|
$31.40 |
|
$659.50 |
|
|
· Carpool (2 people) |
|
$15.70 |
|
$329.70 |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scenario 2: Driving vs. Riding the Train |
|
Daily |
|
Monthly |
|
|
|
· Driving alone |
|
$45.68 |
|
$959.28 |
|
|
· MTA Metro-North New Haven Line: |
|
$16.50 |
|
$165.50 |
|
|
· MTA Metro-North Harlem Line: Brewster to White |
|
$15.00 |
|
$159.75 |
|
|
*Monthly train tickets are cheaper than 42 one-way |
|
|
|
|
Figures above are based on an average of 21 working days per month.
Cost per mile estimate based on AAA's "Your Driving Costs 2016" brochure. Please note, .571 is a default composite average cost per mile for small, medium and large sedans that average 15,000 miles per year. To calculate your exact cost per mile, see the brochure.