Best Workplaces For Commuters

Make sure your employees don't have the Highway 40 Blues . . .

St. Louis' Best Workplaces for Commuters leading the way during the Highway 40 Construction Project

More than 30 St. Louis employers who have met the E.P.A.'s national standards for the Best Workplaces for Commuters Program serve as models for transportation benefit programs for other employers in
the St. Louis region especially during the Highway 40 Construction Project:

Why should an employer be concerned with implementing transit benefit programs at the worksite?

There are several reasons for an employer to be concerned about these programs. First and foremost are the cost savings for employers participating in Commuter Benefit programs through reduced payroll taxes and parking expenses. It has been proven that employers can save thousands of dollars by offering employee transit benefit programs. Find out your tax savings now with the Tax-Savings Calculator that enables employers and commuters to calculate their tax savings.

Other benefits include reduced parking demand, increased employee job satisfaction, enhanced recruiting and retention, improved community relations and national recognition as an environmental leader.

All of these benefits become even more important as construction begins in the I-64 corridor and commuters from all areas see the effects of increased traffic congestion on their commute as well as employers' productivity. Enroll your company today for free and have the benefits in place tomorrow!

Access our Transit Benefit Folder to find out what programs you can adopt at your worksite!

St. Louis' Best Workplaces for Commuters List

Employees who worked for the 26 employers on the St. Louis region's first list in 2004 helped to:

• Eliminate up to 16,000 metric tons per year of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2),
• reduce formation of unhealthy ground-level ozone smog by eliminating up to 38 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOC), up to 63 tons nitrogen oxides (NOx) and up to 298 tons carbon monoxide (CO) per year.
• These employees also help reduce 1,861,000 gallons of gasoline used per year and 37,786,00 million miles driven per year.
• Employers on the list vary from having just two employees all the way to 13,000 employees. Over 35,000 employees are covered by the St. Louis 2004 Best Workplaces for CommutersSM

FIND OUT WHAT THE ST. LOUIS BEST WORKPLACES FOR COMMUTERS ARE DOING . . .

There might be a program already out there that fits your company's needs!

Blackwell, Sanders, Peper, Martin

This law firm is committed to reducing pollution and commuter stress by offering its employees the following benefits:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* A fully subsidized transit pass to all employees
* Parking cash out
* Secure bicycle parking
* Compressed work schedules
* Onsite amenities.

Barnes Jewish Hospital (2005)

Barnes Jewish and St. Louis Childrenn's Hospitals initiated a transit subsidy program in Jan. of 2005 which resulted in more than a 900% increase in the number of passes sold onsite. The program includes:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* A $20 transit subsidy program
* Pre-payroll tax deductions for the remaining cost of the pass
* A Shuttle system from the transit stations surrounding the worksite that serves the entire campus -
it is estimated that 65% of the 12,000 employees utilize this system
* Rideshare matching
* Secure bicycle parking and showers for bicyclists
* Onsite amenities.

Center for Financial Training

The Center for Financial Training offers significant transit benefit programs considering that they are an office of 5. Sixty percent of their workforce uses an alternative to driving alone to work. Programs include:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Parking cash out
* Full Transit subsidy of $68 per month
* Telecommuting
* Compressed work schedules
* Onsite marketing of the transit programs
* Dissemination of air quality information as well as alternatives to driving alone.

St. Louis Children's Hospital (2005)

Barnes Jewish and St. Louis Childrenn's Hospitals initiated a transit subsidy program in Jan. of 2005 which resulted in more than a 900% increase in the number of passes sold onsite. The program includes:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* A $20 transit subsidy program
* Pre-payroll tax deductions for the remaining cost of the pass
* A Shuttle system from the transit stations surrounding the worksite that serves the entire campus -
it is estimated that 65% of the 12,000 employees utilize this system
* Rideshare matching
* Secure bicycle parking and showers for bicyclists
* Onsite amenities.

Citizens for Modern Transit

Citizens for Modern Transit is a not-for-profit agency in St. Louis which has 50% of its workforce using transit for the work commute. They offer:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Full transit subsidy
* Compressed work schedules and flextime
* Onsite amenities
* Dissemination of information at the worksite
* Member of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership.

Development Strategies

Development Strategies is a role model for other small businesses in the St. Louis area. With 15 employees at its downtown St. Louis worksite, Development Strategies offers a commuter benefit program which assists more than half of its workforce.

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program for transit and bicycle commuters
* Tax-free transit passes
* Disseminate information during ozone season and throughout year on alternatives to driving alone.
* Onsite amenities in the building
* Transit information is provided to employees.

DCMA St. Louis

With 65 employees at its Downtown St. Louis worksite, DCMA St. Louis offers a comprehensive transit benefit program. 15 percent of the workforce uses transit for the work commute. Programs include:

* Fully subsidized transit passes at $68 per month
* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program for transit, bicycle, carpoolers and vanpool users
* Rideshare matching
* Compressed work schedules
* Onsite amenities
* Onsite transit pass/ticket sales
* Dissemination of air quality information as well as alternatives to driving alone.

Downtown St. Louis Partnership (2005)

This organization in Downtown St. Louis has been able to shift 20% of its workforce to transit with a full subsidy program.

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* A full transit subsidy
* Flextime
* Secure bicycle parking and lockers
Showers for bicyclists and walkers.

The Experiment

This small business in St. Louis completely supports alternative modes. According to the ETC, "We preach bike, ped and mass transit all the time." The company offers an extensive transit benefits package including:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* A full transit subsidy
* Flextime
* Secure bicycle parking and lockers
* Telecommuting
* Incentive to encourage employees to live closer to work
* Onsite amenities
* Dissemination of information at the worksite
* Provision of real time commuting information.

Food & Drug Administration (2005)

The FDA office in St. Lous offers a full transit subsidy program which has resulted in 34% of the workforce using transit for the work commute. Other programs include:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* A full transit subsidy
* Flextime
* Secure bicycle parking and lockers
* Telecommuting
* Compressed work schedules
* Dissemination of clean air information at the worksite

The Hauser Group

The Hauser Group offers an extensive transit benefits package and has a significant portion of its employees using alternatives to driving alone. They offer:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Tax-free transit passes
* Telecommuting
* Cash out parking
* Rideshare matching
* Secure bike parking
* Compressed work schedules
* Disseminate information onsite.

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP (2005)

This law firm is committed to reducing pollution and commuter stress by offering its employees the following benefits:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* A fully subsidized transit pass to all employees
* Secure bicycle parking
* Onsite transit pass vendor
Onsite marketing of transportation programs.
* Onsite amenities

Internal Revenue Service

More than 40 percent of the workforce at the IRS office in Downtown St. Louis chooses transit for the work commute. A significant portion of the workforce chooses the bus or train for the commute; programs include:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Tax free transit passes
* Rideshare matching
* Secure bicycle parking
* Compressed work schedules
* Onsite amenities
* Dissemination of information on alternatives to driving alone
* Dissemination of air quality information.

Lashly & Baer

Lashly and Baer, a law firm in St Louis, offers a comprehensive transportation benefits package. Benefits include:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Rideshare matching
* $68 transit subsidy
* Reduced parking costs for carpoolers
* Secure bicycle parking
* Compressed work schedules
* A transit pass vendor
* Dissemination of information at the worksite.

Logistics Systems Support Office (LSSO)

The LSSO - US Army CECOM SEC office offers a comprehensive transportation benefits package for its employees. With this program in place, 48 percent of the workforce uses transit or another alternative for the work commute. The LSSO provides the following programs:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program for transit, bicycle, carpoolers and vanpool users
* Provision of real time commuting information
* Compressed work schedules and flextime
* Onsite amenities
* Telecommuting
* Dissemination of air quality information as well as alternatives to driving alone.

Metro

Metro, the transit agency in St. Louis, has 2200 employees and is a Best Workplaces for Commuters. They offer:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Full transit subsidy
* Parking at park-ride lots
* Provision of real time commuting information
* Secure bicycle parking
* Onsite amenities
* Sells transit passes onsite
* Disseminates information at the worksite.

National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency

This federal agency with 2500 employees has 18 percent of its workforce using an alternative mode to commute to work. They offer the following programs as a part of their transit benefit program:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Full Transit Subsidy of $68
* Carpool and vanpool matching
* Preferred parking for carpoolers and vanpoolers
* Secure bicycle parking
* Showers for cyclists or walkers
* Compressed work schedules and flextime
* Onsite amenities
* Marketing promotions onsite through transit fairs, emails, and bulletin board announcements.
* They also promote air quality at the worksite.

National Park Service

The National Park Service has 35% of its workforce using an alternative mode with 33 percent using transit. They offer:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Full transit subsidy of $68
* Secure bicycle parking
* Rideshare matching
* Onsite amenities
* Disseminates information at the worksite.

Office of the US Trustee - Department of Justice (2005)

This federarl agency offers a full transit subsidy of $68 to each employee. In addition they offer::

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
*Onsite marketing of transit program
*Compressed work schedules and flextime
*Secure bicycle parking
*Onsite amenities
*They also promotes air quality at the worksite.
*Member of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership

Public School Retirement System of St. Louis

Forty-four percent of the workforce at the Public School Retirement System of St. Louis uses an alternative to driving alone for the work commute. The company offers an extensive transit benefits package including:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Full transit subsidy
* Flextime
* Onsite amenities
* Dissemination of information at the worksite
* Provision of real time commuting information.

REI (2007)

REI made the Best Workplaces for Commuters list in 2007 with its extensive transit benefit program including its innovative "Eco Card" incentive program for employees.

The Eco Card program was designed to support and reward employees who reduce their own impact on the environment by using alternative transportation. The cards are available in a very visible place to all employees, and each card has 12 boxes on it. Employees can fill a box on their EcoCards every time that they walk, carpool, use public transportation, cycle, run, ski, or ride your llama to work – anything besides driving a car! Once the cards are full they can be redeemed for great 'prizes' including up to paid vacation days for six filled Eco Cards.

REI also offers other benefits to its employees including:

Scott Air Force Base

One of the largest employers in the St. Louis Region with 13,000 employees, Scott Air Force Base offers a diverse transit benefit package to its employees. The major program is a full transit subsidy program for all employees. They also offer a vanpool subsidy of up to $100 per employee. Other programs include:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Rideshare matching
* Secure bicycle parking
* Compressed work schedules
* Flextime
* Onsite amenities
* Dissemination of information on alternatives to driving alone
* Dissemination of air quality information.

Senniger Powers (2005)

This local law office in St. Louis offers a $90 per month per employee transportation allowance which puts alernative mods on equal footing with driving alone. Other programs include:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
*Rideshare matching
* Flextime
* Secure bicycle parking and lockers
* Telecommuting
* Onsite amenities
* Dissemination of clean air information at the worksite

Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration office in St. Louis has 18% of its employees using an alternative to driving alone to work. Programs include:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Full transit subsidy of $68
* Compressed work schedules and flextime
* Onsite amenities
* Ozone awareness program
* Dissemination of information at the worksite.

Southwestern Illinois College

Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville offers a comprehensive benefits program. With a light rail station on its campus, MetroLink ridership is significantly high for both the employees and students.

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Tax free transit passes to both students and staff, costing the College $150,000 per year.
* Rideshare matching
* Flextime
* Secure bicycle parking
* Onsite marketing of transportation programs
* Onsite amenities
* Students and staff can use their IDs to ride the transit system
* Information about the benefits program is included in new hire packets, e-mails, newsletters and bulletin board announcements.

St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association

The St. Louis RCGA is located in Downtown St. Louis with 50 employees at the worksite. The business is located near a MetroLink stop. They offer:

* Tax-free, fully subsidized transit passes to employees
* Guaranteed Ride Home Program for transit and bicycle commuters
* Rideshare matching and carpool information
* Onsite amenities
* Member of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership
* Disseminate clean air information through bulletin board announcements and e-mail.

Stolar Partnership

The Stolar Partnership in St. Louis offers an extensive transit benefits package including:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Full transit subsidy
* Transit pass vendor
* Compressed work schedules and flextime
* Onsite marketing of the program
* Onsite amenities.

Thompson Coburn LLP

This law firm offers multiple transit programs for its employees. Information regarding this benefits program is included in new hire packets. Thompson Coburn LLP offers:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* An $80 transportation benefit program for employees to purchase a parking space
* If employees use the program to purchase a transit pass, they can keep the $30 difference each month
* Rideshare matching
* Compressed work schedules and flextime
* Onsite amenities
* Information about the benefits program included in the new hire packets.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The Corps of Engineers in St. Louis offers a large number of transit benefit programs to its employees resulting in more than 40% of the workforce using an alternative mode. With 400 employees, 166 are choosing an alternative. The program is promoted to employees through e-mail, newsletters and new hire packets. Programs include:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Carpool/vanpool matching
* Full Transit subsidy of $68 per month
* Preferred parking for carpools
* Secure bicycle parking and showers for bikers
* Telecommuting
* Compressed work schedules and flextime
* Onsite marketing of the transit programs
* Onsite amenities
* Will issue up to 3 months worth of transit passes at one time.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (2006)

The US Bankruptcy Court office has more than one third of its workorce using an alternative for the work commute due to its extensive transit benefits program.

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program.
* Transit Subsidy of $30 per pass
* Pre-Payroll tax deductions for vanpools.
* Secure bike parking, lockers and showers.
* Flextime
* Telecommuting
* Onsite marketing of programs
* Onsite amenities.
* Rideshare matching.

USDA

The USDA office in St. Louis offers a significant number of programs as a part of its transportation benefit package. They have 1100 employees and 344 take transit. Programs include:

* Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Tax free transit and vanpool benefits
* Rideshare matching
* Secure bike parking
* Compressed work schedules
* Telecommuting
* Provision of real time commuting information
* Onsite amenities
* A transit pass vendor
* Dissemination of information at the worksite.

US Department of Housing and Urban Development

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has an extensive commuter benefit program available at the worksite for its employees. Programs include:

* Guaranteed Ride Home program for transit commuters, bicyclists, carpoolers and vanpoolers
* Telecommuting
* Full transit subsidy of $68
* Rideshare matching
* Compressed work schedules
* Pre-tax transit or vanpool benefits
* Information on alternatives to driving alone and air quality information available to employees through email.

U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

The US Dept. of Veterans Affairs office in St. Louis has 39% of its 405 employees using an alternative to driving alone to work. Thirty-three percent of those employees take transit. Programs include:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Tax free transit and vanpool benefits
* Rideshare matching
* Preferred parking for carpoolers
* Compressed work schedules
* Onsite amenities
* A transit pass vendor
* Dissemination of information at the worksite.

US District Court (2006)

The US District Court office in St. Louis has more than a third of its workforce taking transit for the work commute. They made the list in 2006 for their extensive program including:

*The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* A transit subsidy of $30 per pass
*Secure parking for bicyclists as well as showers and lockers
* Compressed work schedules and flextime
* Onsite amenities
* A transit pass vendor
* Dissemination of information at the worksite

Washington University

Washington University has a significant transit benefit program at the worksite. The first major component that was initiated on July 1, 2006 is a transit subsidy program that offers free transit passes to its 13,000 eligible staff and 12, 000 students. This year alone, 13,000 of this 25,000 have chosen to receive the pass which is 52 percent of the campus participating.

Another component of the program are the Mortgage Forgiveness Program and the shuttle system that feeds the light rail station. Washington University subsidizes shuttles through Metro that run M-F from 7 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. that service the Forest Park MetroLink Station and surrounding neighborhoods. All employees and students can ride the shuttle for free with their subsidized passes.

The Mortgage Forgiveness Program for employees allows employees to qualify for up to $4000 or 5% of the purchase price of the home as an incentive to live closer to the worksite. The loan is forgiven over a 5-year term at 20% per year. The University also offers a 50 percent transit subsidy for the students on a semester basis. Students only pay $90 per semester (which is a four month period) for transit passes.

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Rideshare matching
* Charging students and employees for parking
* Secure bicycle parking including lockers and showers
* Compressed work schedules and flextime
* Telecommuting
* Onsite amenities
* Transit passes sold onsite
* Dissemination of air quality information onsite.

Washington University School of Medicine

WUSM is one of the major employers in the region with 8000 employees at the worksite that surrounds the Central West End MetroLink Station. Their extensive program has resulted in 16% of the workforce choosing alternatives to driving alone - 5% transit, 5% carpool, 5% bicycle and 1% vanpool. The two major components of the program are a fully subsized transit pass program of $68 per pass per employee per month and the Mortgage Forgiveness Program.

The Mortgage Forgiveness Program for employees allows employees to qualify for up to $4000 or 5% of the purchase price of the home as an incentive to live closer to the worksite. The loan is forgiven over a 5-year term at 20% per year.

Other programs that are offered at the Medical Center include:

* The Guaranteed Ride Home Program
* Rideshare matching
* A $15 vanpool subsidy
* Preferred parking for carpoolers
* Secure bicycle parking including lockers and showers
* Compressed work schedules
* Onsite amenities
* Sale of transit passes onsite
* Dissemination of air quality information onsite. # # #