|
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recently listed Dartmouth as one of New Hampshire's seven best workplaces for
commuters. The EPA releases the annual list to provide national recognition to
employers that improve the quality of life in their communities by reducing
traffic congestion and air pollution. To qualify, employers must offer
outstanding commuter benefits such as free or low-cost bus passes, availability
of telecommuting, and carpool matching. This year's list also includes Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC).
A variety of options exist for Dartmouth commuters. There is Advance Transit, a free bus service
that connects Hanover to a variety of Upper Valley towns, including Canaan,
Enfield, Hartford, Lebanon, Norwich, West Lebanon, White River Junction, and
Wilder. Advance Transit also provides free transportation to and from DHMC and
peripheral parking lots. The free bus service is made possible through a
partnership between Dartmouth, DHMC, Upper Valley towns, and Advance Transit.
For more information call (802) 295-1824.
For drivers, there is the Rideshare program (with a motto
of "Wanted: The Lone Commuter") that provides a matching service for
carpool-seeking employees. Through the Parking
Office, a green parking permit is available to carpoolers with two people,
and a reserved, designated green parking space is available to carpoolers with
three or more people. Call 646-2340 for more information.
In addition, the parking office offers to "buy out" employees
parking permits for $180 or $360, depending on where an employee lives.
"The goal of this effort is to reward faculty and staff who find
alternatives to commuting in single occupant vehicles," says Bill Barr,
director of fiscal and auxiliary services for Facilities, Operations, and
Management.
Barr points to the number of riders on Advance Transit as indication that
the combination of efforts to reduce traffic congestion is making a difference.
According to Advance Transit, ridership on their service from Hanover to Upper
Valley towns has risen from 275,009 in fiscal year 2004, to 300,419 in fiscal
year 2005, to 353,536 in fiscal year 2006.
The EPA list, titled Best Workplaces for
Commuters, includes 1,600 employers nationwide. It has been released the
past four years.
By STEVEN J. SMITH
|
RSS/XML Feed