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Area Businesses get a chance to Walk the Walk
and
“Ride the Ride” when it comes to promoting Alternative
Transportation
Event
launches Smart Business Partnership to create awareness
around transportation choices
(
“This is a great way for businesses to get well-deserved recognition
for being a Smart Partner in our community”, says Isaac Benton,
Chair of the Rio Metro Board. “We’re hoping that this program is
contagious among employers – and that when one business sees another
supporting alternative modes of travel for its employees, then that
makes the other want to jump on the band wagon.” The
Rio Metro Regional Transit District and ABQ Ride received a federal
Travel Demand Management Grant in fiscal year 2010 to promote
alternative transportation options in the workplace. As part of this
grant, the two are working with major employers in the region to
create awareness and incentives to reduce the use of single occupant
vehicles. The Smart Business Partnership program provides
businesses with the prospect of obtaining three different partner
levels of participation; Bronze, Silver, and Gold. For instance, a
Bronze level partner might display transit schedules and brochures
at the worksite, whereas a Gold level employer could create
designated carpool spaces for employees who share a ride to work.
Just as each level requires employers to meet certain criteria, the
different levels also offer a matched set of partner rewards. Bronze
partners get quarterly listings in transportation publications,
while Gold partners can receive discounted bus and train passes for
their employees.
“We’re already a Gold level partner,” says Clovis Acosta, Director
of UNM Parking and Transportation Services. “The University actively
supports the use of alternative transportation among our staff,
faculty, and students for the benefits and rewards it provides to
our commuters and community. The best way to gain buy-in from area
businesses when it comes to promoting public transportation is to
show them that there are real rewards for employees and business
that incentivize the use of green transportation.” If
businesses are interested in finding out more about the program, or
if they would like to attend the Smart Business Partnership
Breakfast on Tuesday, December 7th at the Hard Rock Hotel
& Casino, they can contact Rio Metro at (505) 724-3656.
Contacts:
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