TransLink’s Transit-Friendly Employer program has been a success since its launch a year ago. The program has now certified 28 local organizations, which have collectively provided nearly 7,000 subsidized transit passes to employees in the region.

The Transit-Friendly Employer program, which is the first of its kind, recognizes leading local employers with a certification stamp for supporting transit and contributing to a cleaner environment. By providing subsidized transit passes to employees, organizations can increase their recruitment and retention rates while making employee travel easy, affordable, and climate-friendly.

This fall, twelve organizations have been newly certified in the program, including Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Health Care, Grouse Mountain, Canfor, Vivreau Canada, and Rivian Automotive.

To become a Transit-Friendly Employer, organizations must subsidize at least 50 per cent of the cost of an employee’s transit pass, while employees pay the remainder. Large companies with over 200 staff need to sign up at least 10 per cent of employees, while smaller employers must enroll a minimum of 25 per cent of employees.

Transit-Friendly Employer is part of TransLink for Organizations, which continues to provide sustainable travel solutions for workers across the region. As employee commuting can often contribute to significant greenhouse gas emissions, Transit-Friendly Employer offers an opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of Metro Vancouver businesses.

Here are some quick facts about Transit-Friendly Employer:

• 20 per cent of work trips in the region are made on public transit.
• If every Transit-Friendly Employer transit pass holder drove a car instead, there would be around 7,000 extra cars on the road — roughly equivalent to a line of cars from downtown Vancouver to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal.
• Metro Vancouver employee parking lots can range as high as $115 per month.
• 75 per cent of employers that approached TransLink about the Transit-Friendly Employer program indicated an immediate interest in providing transit benefits to staff.

By participating in the Transit-Friendly Employer program, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility while providing valuable perks to their employees. The program also helps reduce traffic congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality in the region.