Triangle Region Best Workplaces for Commuters
Best Workplaces for Commuters
Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) is a national recognition program, administered by the Center for Urban Transportation located in Tampa, Florida. It designates businesses and organizations that provide benefits, establish policy, and encourage their employees to use alternative modes of transportation (biking, carpool, transit, etc.) during their commutes.
TJCOG has administered the Best Workplaces for Commuters Program within the Triangle Region since 2013 and during that time we have provided technical assistance to employers who are interested in instituting commuter benefits and navigation for those beginning the application process. Additionally, our program hosts and attends outreach events in order to connect with potential members and advocate for alternative commute options.
The goals of the Triangle Regions Best Workplaces for Commuters Program are to:
- Decrease the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the Triangle’s roadways at peak commuting times for the benefits of decreased traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Assist Triangle employers in creating a workplace that is friendly to alternative commute modes and incorporate it as a part of their identity and culture.
- Support the Triangle’s workforce by increasing employee access to flexible and sustainable commute options that make traveling to and from work easier and more enjoyable.
- Ensure BWC membership is an attainable designation for all businesses and organizations regardless of their size and increase the membership opportunities of BIPOC and women-owned businesses to better establish an inclusive cohort of participants.
2022 Triangle BWC Members
| BASF Corporation (Research Triangle Park) | Citrix (Raleigh) |
| Durham County Government (Durham) | GoTriangle (Research Triangle Park) |
| IBM (Research Triangle Park) | City of Raleigh (Raleigh) |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill) | North Carolina State University (Raleigh) |
| TransLoc (Durham) | Triangle J Council of Governments (Durham) |
| Town of Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill) | Orange County Government (Hillsborough) |
| Town of Chapel Hill - Town Hall (Chapel Hill) | Orange County - Whited Building (Hillsborough) |
| Town of Chapel Hill - Community Center (Chapel Hill) | Orange County - West Campus Office Building (Hillsborough) |
| Town of Chapel Hill - Fire Station 1 (Chapel Hill) | Orange County - Southern Human Services Center (Hillsborough) |
| Town of Chapel Hill - Fire Station 2 (Chapel Hill) | Town of Chapel Hill - Hargraves Center (Chapel Hill) |
| Town of Chapel Hill - Fire Station 3 (Chapel Hill) | Town of Chapel Hill - Library (Chapel Hill) |
| Town of Chapel Hill - Fire Station 4 (Chapel Hill) | Town of Chapel Hill - Public Works (Chapel Hill) |
Employer Benefits
Membership to the Best Workplaces for Commuters Program is accompanied by many benefits to the employers that participate, including:
· National and local recognition as a Best Workplace for Commuters and a framed certificate to display this designation.
· Access to networking and recognition events, certificate programs, conferences, and trainings held both regionally and nationally.
· Improved employee recruiting, retention, and satisfaction by offering attractive commuter benefits. Being recognized as a Best Workplace for Commuters makes those benefits visible and marketable not only to current and potential employees but to customers as well.
The Triangle Region’s Best Workplaces for Commuters Program is also available to provide technical assistance to employers through application assistance and in the implementation of commuter benefits.
Employer Eligibility
To qualify for membership, an employer must offer:
- One (1) 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).
- Three (3) supporting benefits, choosing from the options listed in the checklist below.
- Access to an Emergency Ride Home (ERH) service, which provides participants with a ride at no cost if they need emergency transport home due to special circumstances. This service is free to employers in the Triangle through the Share the Ride NC program.
Checklist
To download “The Road to Membership” checklist click here.
Application & Financial Assistance
The deadline to apply for 2023 membership will be mid-December 2022. Please check back for updated dates as they become available.
If you have reviewed the requirements and are ready to apply, please complete the Best Workplaces for Commuter Application.
If you are interested in learning more about the national program, visit bestworkplaces.org.
If you have any questions or would like assistance in starting the process of becoming a Best Workplace for Commuters, please contact Ryan Eldridge at reldridge@tjcog.org.
Scholarship
Each year TJCOG offers a limited number of scholarships to cover the full cost of the application fee for businesses and organizations that have demonstrated a financial need and commitment to alternative commute modes.
The 2023 scholarship application will become available in October 2022. Please check back then for more details on how to apply.