Travel
Information Bulletin
February 2002
Is
your place of work conducive or detrimental to the quality of life of your
employees?
The
average driver now spends the equivalent of nearly a full workweek each
year stuck in traffic.
Nationally, the “rush-hour” has grown from nearly three hours
morning and evening combined in 1982 to almost six hours in 1999.
Research shows that solo driving in rush hour traffic increases the
heart rate, blood pressure and heart irregularities. People making long
commutes are at higher risk for high blood pressure, sleep deprivation,
and depression.
The stress from commuting may linger long after you’ve slammed
the car door. The Washington Family Council noted that “the long-term
consequences of traffic reach far beyond simple economics; it seeps into
the foundation of society – people and their families.”
Studies show that employer involvement greatly improves the use of
commute alternatives among employees.
The benefits are immense: improved employee productivity; improved
morale; easier recruitment and retention; reduced absenteeism; reduced
commuting time and expense; less stress; flexible work schedules and work
arrangements; improved overall quality of life.
Do
you know of the strategies available for implementation at your worksite?
-
Guaranteed
Ride Home (GRH): A guaranteed Ride Home Program, also known as
Emergency Ride Home program, can significantly increase employee
participation in transit use and ridesharing by allaying an
employee’s concerns about getting home in an emergency.
For more about this strategy please call MetroPool at (914)
993-6474.
-
The
$Commute-n-Save$ Program (TransitChek): Commuters who get to
work by bus, rail, ferry, subway or eligible vanpool can save up to
$35 per month on commuting to work by participating in this Pre-Tax
Transportation Benefit program. The savings are still higher when
combined with Parking Benefits for those who drive to a location to
take transit or join a vanpool. To learn more about this benefit,
please call Westchester’s SMART COMMUTE Program at (914) 813-6717.
-
Alternative
Work Schedules:
An Alternative Work Schedule Program (compressed work week,
flextime, staggered hours) can help to provide versatility, enabling
employees to more conveniently use transit and ride-share options, as
well as avoid traffic congestion and transit crowding.
To learn more about these options, please call Westchester’s
SMART COMMUTE Program at (914) 995-4444.
-
Carpooling
and Vanpooling: These are commute choices that reduce the
number of cars on the road and in your company parking lot. A full van
takes 14 cars of the road.
Car and vanpoolers realize significant savings on gas,
insurance, and vehicle maintenance and stress!
Please call MetroPool for more details at (914)
993-6474.
-
Please
call (914) 995-4444 to request our “How To Guide” to learn about
more options and strategies, or e-mail us at tvo1@westchestergov.com
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