BRATTLEBORO — Alternative transportation can be a tough sell in a rural state such as Vermont, where residents often have to travel long distances to get to work and market. The Brattleboro Energy Committee has been working for years to address this issue.
In 2010, the Committee organized the Brattleboro Business Transportation Roundtable, composed of representatives from Brattleboro-area businesses and institutions such as the Brattleboro Retreat, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, and Landmark College.
The Roundtable has been working to promote its employees' use of alternative commuting - think biking, walking, carpooling, and taking the bus - through programs such as the Way To Go Commuter Challenge.
More recently, the Energy Committee teamed up with the United Way of Windham County, the Windham Regional Commission, and Vital Communities - a White River Junction-based nonprofit - to launch a program called Smart Commute.
Sue Graff, community investment director of the United Way of Windham County, says her organization is committed to ensuring that all people in Windham County have the transportation they need to get to work and meet their basic needs.
“It will take partners coming together, including employers and employees, transportation providers, nonprofits and local government, to create solutions,” Graff said in a press release.
Aaron Brown, transportation program manager at Vital Communities, agrees: “It's exciting to partner with our friends to the south. We've helped Upper Valley commuters save over $1 million in fuel costs and can't wait to see the success in Windham County,” he says.
The Smart Commute team surveyed employees of Roundtable-member businesses to learn more about their commuting habits, barriers, and motivations.
Nine businesses, institutions, and nonprofits participated, with 449 employees responding. The survey found that 87 percent of respondents drive alone; 13 percent tap carpooling, walking, biking, and/or taking the bus. The average driving distance is approximately 15 miles each way.
The top barriers to carpooling listed by respondents included not knowing anyone else who carpools, traveling during the day, and not having a flexible schedule. The top barriers to riding the bus: no bus service is available, or the bus stop is too far away.
These barriers, however, can be overcome. The Vermont Agency of Transportation's Go Vermont program helps match potential carpoolers, and educates the public about public transit options.
Vermonters who register with Go Vermont (www.connectingcommuters.org) are also eligible for a guaranteed ride home in the rare event that they encounter a problem and can't meet their carpool or bus.
“Using transportation alternatives provides so many benefits for businesses and their employees,” says Paul Cameron, Brattleboro's town energy coordinator. “Employees are happier and more productive, everyone saves money on fuel and parking costs, and it helps the environment.”