2. Background
Introduced by the Illinois Department of Transportation in
2008.
Total grant = $148,000
Managed and Administered through Pace Bus.
Commuter Grant Expired 30 June 2014.
Objectives
Reduce the number of SOV’s on-road and at worksite.
Free up valuable parking spaces.
Improve air quality.
Support attraction and retention of the workforce.
3. Recruitment
Some Employee
Coordinators were referred
by Business Development/
Government Relations Staff
Pace has a website page
dedicated to Employee
Resources Toolkit.
RideShare Registration
Payroll Inserts
Printable Posters
Texts for newsletters
Poster Powerpoints
Employer Commuter
Grant
Commuter Benefits
Vanpool information
4. Eligibility
Eligibility
Be an employer in the Six-County Chicagoland Area
TMA’s, Business Organizations, Local Governments, and
Chambers of Commerce are also eligible
Applicants are committed to:
Spend all upfront costs.
Design and Run their Commuter Grant Program (they can consult
with Pace for advice and clarification).
Submit forms and receipts to acquire reimbursement.
6. Guidelines
Employers would apply online and submit to email; and
administrator would follow up and determine final amount.
Pace has the right to determine the final amount.
Maximum of $20,000 for one-year period.
Can renew for a second one-year period if funds are available
and successful progression of the first year.
Funds are available for subsiding or enhancing a qualified
program for one year.
Must have qualifying expenses to receive reimbursements.
Progress reports, invoices, receipts, and accompanying
documents due every 10th of the month.
7. Qualified &
Unqualified
Expenditures
Approved
Oil Change/Mechanic gift
card
Gas Cards
Transit Passes (CTA, Pace, &
Metra)
Emergency Ride Home
Vanpool Fares
Raffle Prizes
Marketing
Awareness brochures
Single Bike and Bike
Accessories (cap of $500)
Parking Signs
Staffing (≤ 25% of total)
Must provide invoices
Not Approved
Transferrable/Assignable to
another company or project
(without prior permission)
Extended to a business that
relocates outside of the Six-
County regional area.
Reward to cover employee’s
salary for paid day(s) off.
No capital improvements
bike racks are okay
Cannot use money to buy a
van
Shuttles were approved in
2013
Use of own Intranet or
RideShare website
8. Breakdown
12 companies participated, 2008-14
Nine Private Companies
Two Governmental Agencies
One University (in conjunction with Local Government)
TDM Program Administrators
3 Sustainability Coordinators
6 Human Resources Employees
1 Portfolio/Property Manager
2 Finance Directors
Travel and Commuter Surveys
Not a prerequisite for grant approval.
Very helpful for site visits and community relations purposes.
4 companies performed surveys prior to applying, identified
needs.
9. Programs
Type of Program # of companies participated
Vehicle Maintenance Cards 2
Transit Passes 3
Vanpool Fares 3
Carpool Related 3
Emergency Ride Home 3
Raffle 2
Marketing 4
Staff Time 2
Shuttle 2
Bike Related 2
11. Notable
Highlights
One company used the grant for relocation
(Blue Island to Bolingbrook)
50 carpools were generated.
7 Vanpools were created.
Accommodated employees from out of region locations (NW
Indiana and Kanakee County, IL)
Two companies subsidized their entire commuter vanpool
program.
One company = 10 people for two vans.
Another company = 20 people for three vans.
Utilized various Metra Station parking lots to access last mile.
One Relocating company had parking issues with Parking
Deck Construction
Shuttle service.
Consultation for use of electric vehicles and parking counters.
12. Challenges
Finding a “sweet spot” with behavior change.
Change is hard, proactive behavior change is harder.
Ensuring a consistent timeline for when reimbursements are
due.
Firm deadlines help when your internal departments have
policies (i.e. Accounting Department or Grant Managers).
Counseling when appropriate.
When to learn from Counseling to Hand-Holding.
Understanding “gray areas” with “red lines.”
Which rules of your commuter program can you allow wiggle
room, if any.
13. Conclusions
Managerial Support are critical for success.
Employer
Transit Agency
MPO
Proactive counseling with employee transportation
coordinators are recommended.
Helps with guidance and ownership.
Tracking helps with reporting data over time.
Budgeting.
Cars removed from Parking.
Increases in Vanpool or Transit use.
Bike Use at the worksite(s).
Companies with sustainability goals.
