ELIMINATE VEHICLE TRIPS AND IMPROVE AIR QUALITY

Ridesharing, vanpooling and carpooling offer many benefits, including reduced travel costs for gas and general vehicle maintenance. Other pay-offs include more personal time while traveling and less driving-related stress. Travelers using these options often experience shortened travel time as they can utilize High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.

Companies and individuals can reduce expenses by using pre-tax options for utilizing alternatives to driving along. Companies can supplement employee benefit packages with Transportation (Commuting) Benefits.

Find a Rideshare match in your neighborhood at www.utacommuter.com.
Visit www.utarideshare.com to find out more about UTA's Rideshare options.

You can make efficient use of your time throughout your day by using public transit. Fringe benefits include extra time to relax and be comfortable, saved money on gas and car maintenance, free time to respond to e-mails or review material for work, or even time for a little pleasure reading. The cost savings to you include not having to pay for gas, parking, or maintenance, and reduced wear and tear on your vehicle.

Public transit options include services offered by UTA such as bus, TRAX and FrontRunner. Visit www.rideuta.com for details on public transit options.

Biking and/or walking can provide you with health benefits while they reduce travel costs. Not only can you reach your destination relaxed, you can reduce the stress generated by driving in congestion, having to find a parking space or purchasing gas. In addition to personal health benefits, active transportation helps the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.

Teleworking decreases your work stress, eliminates your commute and related costs and can increase your participation in local community activities. By teleworking, you don’t have to go in to the traditional office everyday. Just think of all the time you will save by not commuting. You will have more time to spend with your family and friends or be able to pursue other interests. You can work in a telework center or from home, based upon the options your company provides.

e-traveling by using the Internet or phone instead of going out has become such a major part of our lives, that sometimes we don't even realize we are doing it. Shopping online, downloading a video or making a phone call instead of taking a trip are just a few of the ways that you can eliminate trips by e-traveling.

Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures, and other flexible work arrangements. The total numbers of hours worked and expected productivity remain the same. Typically, outcomes are based on the staff member's achievement of results and use of competencies critical to achieving those results.

Similar to flexible work hours, a compressed workweek allows you to travel to and from work during non-peak hours. Typically, a compressed workweek is 4 days per week/10 hour shifts, 3 days/12 hour shifts or 9 hour shifts with one day off on alternating weeks. Schedules such as this allow employees to have more free time in their off hours and more productive time at work.

By trip chaining, you can save vehicle trips by simply planning before you get in the car. Trip chaining is consolidating trips you take throughout the day. For instance, if you are at home and need to travel to two destinations in one day, you can travel from home, to the first destination, to the second destination and then back home again. By doing this instead of returning home after each trip, you have saved one trip. The more trips you chain together, the more vehicle trips you can potentially save.