Markham and Richmond Hill Businesses
are Smart Commute Leaders

Smart Commute 404-7 helps local businesses combat traffic congestion

Traffic congestion in Markham and Richmond Hill is more than just a source of aggravation. For businesses significant costs can be directly attributed to traffic congestion – lost work time and productivity, higher transportation costs, and employee turnover when staff leave to work for a competitor who offers them an easier commute. And there are indirect costs such as the negative effect a stressful commute has on a worker’s quality of life and their work.

• Major highways congested in peak hours - 70%
• Cost of congestion (Greater Toronto Area)
   - $1.8 billion per year
• Significant impact on goods movement
• Delays to employees & visitors
• Affects on site parking demand & supply
• Impedes employee recruitment and retention
• Stress to employees:
   - 8 hour day now a 10 hour day, with less time for family
   - Sick days become commuter-related and increase in frequency

Traffic congestion in Markham and Richmond Hill will continue to erode us financially unless we do something about it. According to the 2001 Transportation Tomorrow Survey, trends point to an increase of 64% in auto trips by 2021 and a tripling in the number of congested roads. Government is building more roads and expanding public transit services but this is not enough. We need to address the main source of our traffic congestion – the single occupant vehicle. To do this, Smart Commute 404-7 needs your corporate leadership.

Smart Commute 404-7 teams with Markham and Richmond Hill employers

While employers in Markham and Richmond Hill can help to reduce the number of single occupant vehicles by offering their employees alternative ways to commute to work they don’t have to do this alone. Smart Commute 404-7 can help. Just let us know you’re interested in promoting commute options and we’ll do the rest. By helping businesses improve their profit positions by reducing traffic congestion everyone benefits – the company, the employee, and the community.

Benefits to Your Business

A commuter option program offers many benefits to employers. Some benefits directly affect you, as an employer, while others are more indirect such as improved employee job satisfaction and a better community. Here are a few good reasons to get involved.

Easier to recruit and retain employees.
A long, tough commute can make it more difficult to recruit and/or retain qualified employees. Offering new and existing employees commuter options will demonstrate your firm’s commitment to their well-being.

Increase employee productivity.
Employees who travel to work by public transit or rideshare are more likely to arrive on time and be less stressed than those who drive.

Reduce lost time due to illness.
Work time lost due to illness is costly. Commuter stress plays a direct role in a person’s emotional and physical health.

Reduce parking requirements.
Less demand for employee parking frees up spots for your customers and visitors and in the long run, if you lease or maintain your parking facilities, you can save money by potentially reducing the number of spaces you need.

Improve traffic flow.
Reducing the number of commuting vehicles frees up much needed space on our roads, helping to move your product faster. It also increases road safety and that can have a positive impact on both business and personal insurance rates.

Lower facility costs.
Teleworking is a practical way to reduce the number of workstations you need. This can be a significant money-saver if you need to expand your facility by construction or leasing more space.

Get Involved – for Your Benefit

Any business wanting to participate in the Smart Commute initiative by offering commute options to their employees, is welcome to join. All you have to do is let us know you are interested and we will give you all the tools you need to promote commute options to your employees. We can also help you determine which commuter options are best suited for your particular company and employees. Take a moment to read about membership in Smart Commute 404-7 by Clicking here

Businesses in Richmond Hill should contact Paul Bradbury at 905-884-1961 ext. 24 or George Flint at 905-771-2455 and businesses in Markham should call Basil Marcello at 905-474-0730 ext. 14. If you are interested in knowing more about the Smart Commute 404-7 Association send us an email (click here for our handy form) or give us a call. We look forward to working with you towards our common goal of reducing traffic congestion!