As we step into the new year, organizations are reviewing and refining their commute programs, adjusting hybrid work schedules and updating transportation benefits. Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) is here to help businesses navigate these changes with a variety of resources designed to support both employees and employers. In today’s evolving work environment, having a well-rounded transportation benefit plan – and ensuring employees are well-informed and engaged – is essential for maintaining morale, boosting retention, and staying competitive.
ATP offers many resources to assist organizations in optimizing their commuter programs. In this post, we’ll highlight three key tools: Commuter Benefits, Commute Planners, and ATP’s Understanding the Commute Toolkit. These resources play a vital role in helping Arlington businesses assess, update, and communicate their transportation plans effectively, ensuring smooth implementation and maximum outcomes.
For companies and organizations looking to adjust their hybrid models or amend their number of in-office days, now is the perfect time for a refresher on transportation benefits and the value they provide to both employees and employers. Transportation benefits are IRS-sanctioned incentives designed to support employees' commutes, offering tax advantages for a variety of commuting options, such as public transit and vanpool. These benefits are adjusted annually, with the maximum benefit increasing from $315 per month in 2024 to $325 per month in 2025. Employers can allocate these benefits to employees in several ways: through a direct benefit, where the employer covers the cost of transportation; a pre-tax benefit, where funds are deducted from the employee’s paychecks before taxes; or a combination of both. These options help support a more sustainable and efficient commuting experience for all.
Developing a tailored transportation benefit plan for your organization can offer significant advantages for both employees and employers. For employers, an optimized transportation benefit plan can result in savings on federal payroll taxes, lower parking costs, and improved employee retention and satisfaction. For employees, a well-designed plan can reduce out-of-pocket commuting expenses, saving both time and money on the daily commute. Those interested can look at ATP’s Commuter Benefits Guide to learn more about the benefits and programs available. ATP’s trained Business Development Managers (BDMs) are available to assist you in evaluating your current transportation benefits and ensure they are updated and aligned with the current business landscape, so both employees and employers can maximize the benefits of their plans.
For commuters looking to get the most out of the variety of transportation options available, ATP offers custom Commute Planners to help guide the way. Simply click here and complete a brief survey with your name, email address, starting point and destination. Within one to two business days, an ATP representative will reach out with a comprehensive breakdown of potential commuting options. This detailed information includes various public transit routes, such as rail and bus services along with an estimate of costs for one-way or round-trip travel and the time it will take for you to reach your destination.
For commuters traveling longer distances, such as those coming from outside Arlington County, the Commute Planner is an excellent resource for learning about local rail lines and resources that serve the DMV region. For those looking to learn more about commuting from the greater DMV region, consider reviewing ATP’s Regional Transportation Guide.
ATP’s Understanding the Commute Toolkit is an invaluable resource for those seeking to explore the transportation options available in Arlington County. It offers a comprehensive overview of key programs, including commuter benefits, flexible workplace options, and carpooling and vanpooling resources. For organizations aiming to assess or enhance their current transportation programs, this guide is essential to developing an effective program that maximizes the benefits for both employers and employees. Additionally, the toolkit outlines how ATP can support organizations in utilizing these resources, including providing expert guidance on implementing new programs and hosting tabling events to share transportation information directly with employees.
In addition to its detailed overview of transportation resources, the toolkit also features an Opportunity Assessment, which is an ideal first step for organizations looking to re-examine their return-to-office plans. Organizations may complete and submit this assessment to ATP, which collects essential information about an organization’s structure—including location, employee count, and existing benefits—as well as any parts of their program they would like to review or amend. Once submitted, ATP’s dedicated BDMs will follow up to help optimize your transportation benefits plan.
Reevaluating and enhancing your organization’s commute benefit and transportation programs can deliver significant benefits to both employees and employers, from increasing satisfaction and improving retention. As your organization works to assess and refresh its commuter benefits plans, it's essential to stay informed about the latest resources and programs available. This includes gaining a deeper understanding of how transportation benefits can elevate the employee experience, using Commute Planners to identify the most effective commuting options, and reviewing ATP’s Understanding the Commute Toolkit to ensure your updated plan is fully prepared for launch. ATP is here to guide you through every step of the process, helping you customize your transportation benefits and ensure your organization is set up for success in the year ahead.