City of Austin recognized for supporting commuting employees

The city of Austin has been chosen as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters in 2018. The program coordinator for the national designation, Julie Bond, praised the city for its commuter benefits, which include free Capital Metro passes and B-cycle memberships, flexible work schedules, subsidized vanpools, lockers and showers for active commuters, and a commuter incentive program. “The City of Austin is on the cutting edge of a national movement,” Bond said in the news release. “They have listened to their employees’ challenges with traffic congestion and their concerns over reducing emissions. By offering a range of commuter options, the City of Austin gives its employees the support they need to get to and from work so they can be at their best. The companies on this list understand the importance and impact commuter options have on their employees and the value they bring to the environment.” Austin Transportation Director Rob Spillar said the city was proud to receive the designation. “In 2017, the City of Austin as an employer set a new goal to reduce commute trips by 30 percent by 2022,” he said. “The City of Austin has also challenged other employers in Austin to follow suit through our region’s transportation mobility association, Movability Austin. Together, we can reduce traffic and reach this goal.”