This week, we are featuring a new nonprofit member—Commute Seattle. Join us in welcoming this new member!
Seattle’s traffic challenges are well-known, but GSBA members might not be aware of a great resource to help navigate the city’s busy highways and streets: Commute Seattle.
Commute Seattle is a nonprofit transportation management agency founded to address traffic and congestion by working directly with businesses to improve employee travel to and from work.
They believe equality is a foundational value, drawing on the experience of a unique and multi-talented staff to connect with Seattle’s diverse business community. Their dedication to transportation equity and creating a city that welcomes everyone led them to join GSBA in 2018.
The second highest living expense in Seattle after housing is transportation. For low-income or marginalized employees and small business owners, the impact of increased commute costs is especially pronounced. Through a mix of free consultations, technical assistance and pilot programs, Commute Seattle is working to reduce barriers to affordable and accessible transit.
Commute Seattle’s services leverage city-, county- and state-funded commuter benefit programs, educate managers on the advantages of telework or flexible hours for employees, and even offer advice on creating bike-friendly offices.
Want to provide employees with an unlimited annual ORCA card at the most cost-effective rate on the market? Reach out to Commute Seattle to learn more about the ORCA passport program. Or perhaps you want to save employees hundreds of dollars on commuting expenses without affecting your bottom line. Commute Seattle’s pre-tax program can help your business save as much as 8 percent on payroll taxes.
No company is exactly the same and employee habits and business resources vary widely. Luckily, Commute Seattle’s robust small business team is experienced working with businesses of all sizes to address their unique commuting challenges.
Whatever your organization’s current transportation profile, Commute Seattle can give you the tools to lower employee travel stress, reduce parking costs, cut congestion and leverage the great public and alternative transportation options available in Seattle.
To contact Commute Seattle, call 206-613-3131 or email [email protected]
More about Commute Seattle
Founded in 2004, Commute Seattle is supported by the Downtown Transportation Alliance (DTA), comprised of the executive leadership of the Downtown Seattle Association, King County Metro, Seattle Department of Transportation, Sound Transit as well as rotating private-sector representation.
In 2017, Commute Seattle achieved a 10-year goal of increasing transit, rideshare, walking and biking to 70 percent of all trips downtown. They continue to improve commutes to and through Seattle through a combination of consultations, technical assistance, and pilot programs.
For more information, visit commuteseattle.com
