Maybe your company is new to Pima Association of Governments’ Travel Reduction Program, or maybe you are a new program travel coordinator at your company and still getting used to the role. Or maybe you have a lot of employees asking about why they must take the annual TRP survey. Whatever the case, the following Frequently Asked Questions will give you the details you need to help others understand more about the program.
Is participation in the Travel Reduction Program mandatory?
Yes, by local ordinance. Employers with 100 or more full-time equivalent employees are required to participate in PAG’s Travel Reduction Program. Other employers may volunteer to participate.
Why does the TRP exist?
The Clean Air Act of 1970 prompted legislation to be put in place to protect air quality. Arizona and Pima County, like other regions across the USA, have similar programs.
What is required of a TRP Employer?
TRP employers have four requirements to meet to be compliant. First, they must assign a transportation coordinator (TC). They must also participate in the TRP Annual Employee Survey, share travel reduction information with employees, and complete the annual trave reduction Activity Inventory Report.
What is the threshold of employees to prompt participation in TRP?
If your employee count is over 100 full-time equivalents (FTE) most of the year, you are a major employer and should share travel reduction information with your staff. Even if you dip under the 100 FTE for part of the year, but average 100, you are required to participate.
What makes a travel reduction program successful for a TC at an employer site?
Leadership buy-in and support for the program is the key to success. If top leaders in an organization understand the “why” for TRP, they can communicate that the benefits of reducing travel during the commute lead to reduced traffic congestion and improved regional air quality and public health.
Are there tools to help our business be successful?
TRP staff have worked with TRP employers to create innovative solutions for annual TRP employee survey access, such as providing a QR Code Flyer, an online survey platform for the survey and the annual Activity Inventory Report, and program resources TCs can download and share on corporate intranets or via email to fellow staff/coworkers.
How do we know if we are making a difference?
PAG generates a report that shows TRP employers how they offset their corporate/local carbon footprint. The monthly reports share metrics that calculate miles saved and emissions offsets generated by the employees who respond to the survey. PAG has resources that show how employers, employees and the community can benefit, the potential health benefits from travel reduction and even the cost savings employees can achieve.
