On Tuesday, June 28, three Montgomery County companies were honored by Commuter Connections for providing outstanding commuting options and alternatives to their employees. The three companies are the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., Bethesda; B. F. Saul Company, Bethesda; and Clean Currents, Rockville. Commuter Connections is a regional program of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments that focuses on making alternatives to drive-alone commuting practical and attractive.

“I want to thank our award-winning businesses, the American Occupational Therapy Association, B. F. Saul Company and Clean Currents, and all the other employers in the County who participate in our Commuter Services Better Ways to Work! program,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. “Through our businesses’ support and encouragement of alternative transportation options, everyone in the County benefits. A comprehensive and balanced transportation system, which includes transit, biking, walking, carpooling and teleworking, reduces traffic congestion, improves our quality of life, and makes the County a more sustainable place to live and work.”

Montgomery County Commuter Services’ (MCCC) works with businesses to set up commuting benefits programs that are tailored to a company’s needs,and implements Commuter Connections’ programs throughout the County. Encouraging alternative transportation results in reduced traffic congestion, a more vibrant economy, cleaner air, helping to attract and retain the best employees, higher productivity and morale and recognition as a good corporate citizen. MCCC and its local program operators, Bethesda Transportation Solutions and the North Bethesda Transportation Center, in cooperation with Commuter Connections, help 
businesses set up transit and biking benefits and telework programs, offer on-site Commuter Information Fairs, conduct an annual commuter survey, assist in the process of certification as a Green Business, and provide recognition for employers’ efforts.

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) received the Incentives Award for offering a wide variety of commuting incentives to encourage the use of public transit, ridesharing, bicycling and teleworking. AOTA is the national professional association for occupational therapy practitioners and students. B. F. Saul Company, a privately-owned real estate firm in Bethesda, won the Marketing Award for their innovative approach to promoting alternatives to drive-alone commuting to their employees.
Clean Currents, which provides residential and commercial power options in the Mid-Atlantic Region and supplies renewable energy credits to businesses nationwide, won the Telework Award.

Commuter Connections supports a region-wide network of transportation programs designed to educate businesses and commuters and promote alternatives to drive-alone commuting. Commuter Connections also manages the Guaranteed Ride Home program, which provides a free ride home to commuters who participate in alternative transportation programs in the event of an emergency. In addition, it offers the Pool Rewards incentive program, which provides up to $130 in cash to drive alone commuters who start or join new carpools.

For more information about MCCC and its Better Ways to Work! programs go to http://montgomerycountymd.gov/commute. For more information about Commuter Connections go to http://www.mwcog.org/commuter.