Best Workplaces for Commuters

Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM (BWC) is a new public-private sector voluntary program which advocates benefits for employee commuters. The Sacramento Region's BWC Coalition includes many of the regional and governmental agencies already familiar to Employee Transportation Coordinators, managers, and transportation-savvy commuters:

• Air Districts of the Sacramento Region
• Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails
• Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG)
• Sacramento Area Human Resources Association (SAHRA)
• Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Like the South Natomas Transportation Management Association ™, these government and business organizations work to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, cut global warming emissions, and make commuting less stressful and costly for employers and employees. The program publicly recognizes employers which provide commuter benefits at a specifically defined "National Standard of Excellence." Participating companies earn the designation "Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM"-a mark of excellence for organizations which are environmentally and employee-friendly.

Employers can use an online checklist to see if they already meet the Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM National Standard of Excellence. If so, online and printable application forms are available. The checklist and interactive Business Benefits Calculator may also be used to determine what measures a business can take to reach the BWC standard. Some of the key commuting benefits which enable an organization to meet the standard are those provided through membership in the South Natomas TMA™. In fact, simply being an employer member of the SNTMA™ is itself a commuting benefit. Qualifying organizations must provide:

• At least one primary commuter benefit-including a subsidized transit pass program such as the SNTMA™ provides.
• At least three supporting commuter benefits, such as carpool/vanpool incentives, lockers/showers for bikers or walkers, incentives for living near work, or onsite amenities such as day care or dry cleaning.
• A central point of contact for information, who actively informs employees of commuter benefits available (an Employee Transportation Coordinator).
• Access to a regional or employer-provided Emergency/Guaranteed Ride Home program-such as the one provided by the SNTMA™.

Employer members of the South Natomas TMA™ which have already been designated the Sacramento Region's Best Workplaces for Commuters are:

• CDM
• CH2MHill
• City of Sacramento (SNTMA™ Associate Member)
• CSE Insurance Group
• Corporation Service Company (CSC)
• Global Energy Decisions
• Thomson/MEDSTAT
• Nolte Associates, Inc.
• Northrop Grumman
• Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.
• Planning & Conservation League
• PSOMAS
• River City Bank
• Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG; SNTMA™ Associate Member)
• Stantec Consulting
• URS

For more information, including tools and ideas for providing and promoting commuter benefits, see the Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM Web site, www.bwc.gov, which provided most of the information for this page.