FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SLOCOG Contact: Anna Devers / adevers@slocog.org
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SLOCOG, Cal Poly, and Atascadero State Hospital
Nationally Recognized as
Best Workplaces for Commuters in 2020
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San Luis Obispo, Calif. (February 6, 2020) – The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG), California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), and Atascadero State Hospital have been named on the 2020 list of Best Workplaces for Commuters for offering employees exceptional commuter benefits.
SLOCOG, Cal Poly, and Atascadero State Hospital are among a select group of workplaces in the United States that have achieved the Best Workplaces for Commuters National Standard of Excellence, with at least 14 percent of their employee base not driving alone to work within a 12-month period. This excellence was achieved by providing an array of commuter benefits and alternative transportation options, like carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking, or taking the bus. SLOCOG’s Rideshare program works with employers like Cal Poly and Atascadero State Hospital to encourage alternative commuting options and provide alluring incentives.
“These employers along with sixty-three (63) others in our region offer commuter programs and benefits,” said Peter Williamson, programs coordinator at SLOCOG. “These employers make up about one-third of our commuting population and recognize the clear link between employee commutes and employee retention. Whether catering program messaging to employees or providing a direct financial incentive, employers are voluntarily leading an effort to help reduce the negative impacts of driving alone, while increasing employee productivity and parking availability. We are extremely proud of our employers for stepping up to reduce vehicle traffic congestion in our region.”
“SLOCOG, Cal Poly, and Atascadero State Hospital are among the top employers in the nation offering high level commuter benefits to their employees,” said Julie Bond, program manager at Best Workplaces for Commuters. “These employers made the list because they offer transportation choices that include a compressed work week, subsidized transit fares, vanpools, bicycle facilities and repair, walking/biking incentives, access to showers, and Guaranteed Ride Home programs. SLOCOG, Cal Poly, and Atascadero State Hospital give their employees the support they need to get to and from work and be at their best before, during, and after their workday.”
The Best Workplaces for Commuters program offers designated organizations access to a range of support services to assess and promote non-driving commuting of employees, including organizational assessment and implementation tool kits, web-based tools, webinars, staff training, and information exchange.
“The companies on this list understand the importance and impact commuter benefits have on their employees and the value they bring to the environment,” said Bond. “Excellent commuter benefit programs reward these companies not just with a national designation, but buoys workplace productivity, customer loyalty, and brand recognition in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”
If you are an employer in San Luis Obispo County interested in learning more about alternative commuting options, please reach out to info@rideshare.org.
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About SLOCOG
The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) is an association of local governments in the San Luis Obispo region. Its members include San Luis Obispo County and its seven cities (Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo) as well as unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County. The central purpose of SLOCOG is to examine common regional problems and suggest solutions. SLOCOG provides transportation planning and funding for the region, and serves as a forum for the study and resolution of regional issues. In addition to preparing the region’s long-range transportation plan, SLOCOG plans and provides funding for public transit services, highway and roadway improvements, and other alternative methods of transportation.
About Best Workplaces for Commuters
Best Workplaces for Commuters is the national authority on recognizing and assisting workplaces that provide exceptional commuter benefits to employees. More than a recognition program, the Best Workplaces for Commuters program provides support needed to create and sustain an employee-provided commuter benefit program, including online assessment tools, advisory services, case studies, tool kits, web-based tools, webinars, and training. Best Workplaces for Commuters represents over 250 workplaces with Best Workplaces for Commuters designation representing over 1,000,000 employees. The Best Workplaces for Commuters program is managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida with support from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
About Center for Urban Transportation Research
The Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida, established in 1988, is an internationally recognized resource for policymakers, transportation professionals, and the public. CUTR provides high quality, objective expertise in the form of insightful research, in-depth policy analysis, comprehensive training and education, and effective technical assistance that translates directly into benefits for CUTR’s project sponsors. CUTR’s faculty of 49 full-time researchers and 75 students, combines academic knowledge and extensive “real world” experience in developing innovative, implementable solutions for all modes of transportation. The multidisciplinary research faculty includes experts in economics, planning, engineering, public policy, and geography. CUTR logs nearly $20 million per year in expenditures through contracts and grants to support its research, education, training and technical assistance missions. In 2019, CUTR was competitively selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation as the university to oversee the National Institute of Congestion Reduction.
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