Commuter Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What are Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM?
A. To qualify for Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM, a company must offer one primary benefit such as employer-paid tax-free transit or vanpool passes, teleworking/telecommuting, or parking cash-out (enabling workers to trade free parking for its cash equivalent). Most organizations must also offer three secondary benefits, choosing from options such as shuttles to and from transit stations (provided directly by the employer or contracted through a service), ridesharing or carpool matching, preferred or reduced-cost parking for carpools and vanpools, and compressed work schedules. Finally, Best Workplaces for Commuters offer an Emergency Ride Home, which provides participants with a ride at no charge if they need emergency transport home due to special circumstances.

Best Workplaces for Commuters help commuters get to work in ways that save them money, reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, increase employee job satisfaction, reduce parking space demand and expenses, and reduce the environmental impacts associated with driving single-passenger vehicles.

Q. Why work for a participating employer?
A. Best Workplaces for Commuters are among a select group that provide their employees with an excellent package of commuter benefits. In fact, the package of benefits they agree to provide represents the National Standard of Excellence for commuter benefits. The benefits can include a wide variety of commuting choices, choices that make commuting less stressful and less costly for you. For example, many employers offer benefits packages that are the equivalent of receiving more than $1,000 in additional salary at significantly less than that in actual cost to the employee. Best Workplaces for Commuters demonstrate that they truly care about the welfare of their employees—not only on the job, but getting to and from it, too.

Employer Frequently Asked Questions

• What does CUTR provide?
  
• Are all participating employers required to provide the same commuting benefits?
• Does our organization need to meet the requirements before applying?
• How was the minimum percent participation requirement determined?
• Is information submitted to CUTR in the annual program update or commuter survey considered confidential?
• What is CUTR's role in this project?

Q. What does CUTR provide?

1. Public recognition and employee recruiting. CUTR provides credible, third-party public recognition to employers making the list of Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM, helping these employers gain recognition as commuter friendly and environmentally responsible. CUTR protects the term Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM, so that only those employers who meet the National Standard of Excellence may use it to describe themselves. To view a list of media results, visit the Media section.
   
   
2. Technical briefs and assistance. CUTR offers commuter benefit briefs that answer commuter benefit implementation and management questions. We also provide employers technical assistance in meeting the National Standard of Excellence.
   
3. Web tools. EPA developed a Web-based calculator that allows an employer to assess the tax and overall financial, environmental, and traffic impacts of commuter benefits.
   
   
4. Exchange ideas. We provide phone forums for exchanging ideas among employers meeting the National Standard of Excellence for employer-provided commuter benefits.
   
   
5. Comparative benchmarking. As employers report their results, CUTR will compile this information and give it back to those companies in very useful ways. CUTR will provide information that allows an employer to see how they are doing compared to others in their region or industry or the program as a whole.

Q. Are all participating employers required to provide the same commuting benefits?
A. No. We allow employers to offer a flexible combination of commuter benefits that can be tailored to a particular company, its employees, and the community. All participating employers, however, are required to offer their employees at a qualifying work site at least one of the following primary benefits:

• Employer-paid tax-free transit/vanpool benefits.
• Telework.
• Parking cash-out.
• Another commuter benefit proposed by the employer that would have a similar impact on the number of people driving alone and that represents a significant workplace benefit.

Employers must also pick three additional commuting benefits from a list of options and provide an Emergency Ride Home.

Q. Does our organization need to meet the requirements before applying?
A. No. The employee participation requirement of 14 percent or more must be met within 18 months of applying. The other requirements must either be currently met or imminent, where imminent means that someone with the authority and resources to implement the requirements is tasked, has a deadline, and is currently undertaking activities to meet them.

Q. How was the minimum percent participation requirement determined?
A.The 14 percent represents the average percent of commuters outside major metropolitan areas who do not drive alone to work. This is included in EPA’s National Standard of Excellence to ensure that employers with low participation rates are not given the same recognition as those with more effective programs.

Q. Is information submitted to CUTR in the annual program update or commuter survey considered confidential?
A. It's up to each employer to decide if the information they submit to CUTR is confidential, or if it can be made public in marketing materials. CUTR will respect the wishes of the employer.

Q. What is CUTR's role in this project?
A. CUTR promotes commuter choice across the country by conducting the following activities:

• Working with environmental stakeholders.
• Defining and tracking progress towards environmental goals.
• Working with supporters to develop successful regional/metro area campaigns.
• Providing public recognition to employers demonstrating environmental leadership.
• Offering expertise in transportation choices and advanced transportation information systems and services.
• Using its network of relationships with state transportation offices and transit companies.

About the Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM?
• How does an organization benefit from participating?
• Why is CUTR promoting commuter benefits?
• Is Best Workplaces for Commuters a voluntary program?
• How does an employer qualify for Best Workplaces for Commuters?
• How does an employer apply?
• Who's participating?

Q: What is Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM?
A:Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM is a voluntary partnership and recognition program that is dramatically changing the way Americans get to and from work. By qualifying, employers can improve their bottom line while bettering the quality of life for commuters and the communities in which they live.

Q: How does an organization benefit from participating?
A: Studies show employers that offer commuter benefits meeting the National Standard of Excellence distinguish themselves from the competition in recruiting and retaining the best employees. They also can save money and reduce demand for parking spaces while providing a benefit that employees value. Finally, employers that offer outstanding commuter benefits are demonstrating their environmental leadership and show that they care about community quality of life. These employers are saving energy and cleaning the air, one commute at a time.

Q: Why is CUTR promoting commuter benefits?
A: Commuting to and from work is a primary cause of increased traffic congestion and air quality problems in many areas across the United States. Reducing the number of cars commuting during rush hour can reduce traffic and improve air quality. In fact, if half of all employees worked for Best Workplaces for Commuters, 15 million cars would be removed from the road daily.

Q: Is Best Workplaces for Commuters a voluntary program?
A: Yes. Employers elect to participate and can leave the program at any time.

Q: How does an employer qualify for Best Workplaces for Commuters?
A: Because the commuting experience varies geographically, the program offers a wide array of options to meet the particular commuting needs of individual employers. To qualify, an employer must offer one primary benefit, such as employer-paid tax-free transit or vanpool passes, teleworking, or parking cash-out (enabling workers to trade free parking for its cash equivalent). Most employers must also offer three secondary benefits, choosing from options such as shuttles to and from transit stations (provided directly by the employer or contracted through a service), ridesharing or carpool matching, preferred or reduced-cost parking for carpools and vanpools, and compressed work schedules. Finally, Best Workplaces for Commuters offer access to an Emergency Ride Home, which provides participants with a ride at little or no cost if they need emergency transport home due to special circumstances.

Q: How does an employer apply?
A: It's simple to sign up—you can apply online!

Q: Who's participating?
A: View a list of participating employers.

For more information, contact us.

PDF files must be downloaded and viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0.