Published May 20 2016
Choose Your Way Bellevue, a city-sponsored effort to encourage commuting alternatives, is rolling out new programs to help employers and property managers provide options for employees and tenants.
The new programs, as well as ongoing free consultations, support employers and property managers wanting to enhance existing programs or create fresh ones. Newly available are:
- Employer/Property Manager Mini-Grant Program: Provides up to $5,000 per work site to assist with capital purchases such as bike racks and digital, real-time transit displays, or for awareness campaigns to reduce drive-alone trips;
- Employer Commute Incentive Program: Provides employer training and initial funding of incentive drawings for employees who log non-drive-alone commute trips; and
- Transit Pass Rebate Program: Partial rebates per pass for employers and property managers in their first or second year of providing transit passes for employees.
The deadline to submit a mini-grant application is July 1, and all programs are available while resources allow. More information about the new programs is available on the the employers advantage web page, by calling 425-990-3097 or by emailing info@cywb.org.
These programs are part of a broader city effort to reduce drive-alone travel in Bellevue and shift travel to trips by bus, carpool, vanpool, bike, walking, teleworking and alternative work schedules. The strategy responds to the challenge of growth in Bellevue by making more efficient use of the transportation system.
"Employer programs are effective in introducing commuters to alternative ways of travel and can support and encourage use of non-drive-alone modes to and from the workplace," said Jason Hampton, Choose Your Way Bellevue program manager.
The city sponsors Choose Your Way Bellevue in collaboration with King County Metro and the Bellevue Downtown Association. It's a resource to help residents, employers, property managers and commuters learn about travel options in Bellevue.