Commuter Club is Here to Help with Telework and Flextime Solutions
 You may know Commuter Club because you have seen one of its 86 vans – the largest vanpool fleet in the county – cruising on metro Atlanta’s roads (and in the HOV lanes). What you may not know is that Commuter Club partners with Cumberland Galleria employers to help them create customized telework and flextime opportunities for their employees.
Commuter Club offers member benefits on a variety of levels. Partnering with Commuter Club enables employers to provide additional benefits to their employees. For example, in 2004, GE Energy had Commuter Club develop a telework pilot program. Initial enrollment was 100 employees. GE provided these employees with computers and paid their High Speed Internet Access bill. Employees were required to gain approval from their manager and Human Resources before they could participate.
GE Energy wanted to improve their ability to serve a global customer base, increase productivity among employees, improve the employee retention rate, and increase employee satisfaction. At the end of the pilot, 85 percent of participants reported increased productivity and 50 percent of managers agreed. Ninety-nine percent of teleworkers reported increased morale as a result of the program. The GE Energy Flexible Work Arrangements program is now available globally to employees.
Partnering with Commuter Club to offer commute alternatives or begin a telework or flextime program will benefit your company for years to come. Commuter Club can work with your company to set up a program that will increase employee morale, productivity and commitment by reducing stress and commute times.
Signing up is simple. For more information, contact Ginny Rainey, or visit the Commuter Club Web site.
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Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Commitment to the Environment
 In May, we told you that Commuter Club’s Guaranteed Ride Home program includes the option to rent a vehicle from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, along with the option to take a free taxi ride home in an emergency. By using a commute alternative, you have assisted in the elimination of more than 609,000 vehicle trips in 2006 alone!
Enterprise is also doing its part with a multi-faceted environmental approach that includes tree-planting and embracing alternative and renewable fuel solutions. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Enterprise has partnered with the National Arbor Day Foundation on the 50 Million Tree Pledge and will underwrite the planting of 50 million trees – 1 million trees a year during the next 50 years! Additionally, Enterprise has launched the FlexFuel initiative, which maximizes the use of its fleet that can burn ethanol-based fuel, and has provided a $25 million grant to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis to develop alternative solutions to finite fossil fuels.
These are just a snapshot of the company’s commitment to the environment and corporate responsibility, which you can learn more about. So, the next time you take advantage of Commuter Club’s Guaranteed Ride Home Program, rest assured that Enterprise Rent-A-Car supports your dedication to the environment.
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Congratulations to Our Spotlight Award Winners!
Congratulations to our Spotlight Award Winners who each received a $100 American Express gift card just for logging their commute. This is just one of the incentives offered by Commuter Club, which adds to the savings from choosing an alternative commute option. Find out how you can log your commute and you could win, too! |
Cherika Burks
Cherika received the ‘Transit Champion’ Spotlight Award in the second quarter for her alternative commute to Fresenius Medical Care. Cherika uses MARTA and CCT to save on gas and enjoys reading or chatting with her out-of-state family on her ride to work. She finds herself more relaxed at work because she doesn’t have to deal with traffic. |
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Cherika Burks, ‘Transit Champion’
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Alice Chang, ‘Telework Champ’
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Alice Chang
Alice received the Spotlight Award for ‘Telework Champion’ during the first quarter by logging 130 telework commutes. By taking advantage of GE’s well-established telework program, Alice saves thousands of dollars in commuting expenses. Not only does she avoid those frustrating hours in rush hour traffic, but the extra time allows her to achieve a healthier balance between career and family. GE’s flexible work programs are a sign of their commitment to an improved quality of life for fit and happy employees. |
Fay Howard
Fay received the ‘Vanpool Champion’ Spotlight Award by logging the most vanpool trips to and from The Home Depot in the second quarter. She says the vanpool has become a “life saver” because she can spend time with new friends and save money on top of it all! |
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Fay Howard, ‘Vanpool Champ’
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Alicia Whitehead, ‘Carpool Champ’ |
Alicia Whitehead
Alicia received the Spotlight Award for ‘Carpool Champion’ in the second quarter. Alicia has been carpooling from Newnan to Taylor, Bean and Whitaker for almost one year, and rotates driving duties with her fellow carpoolers every four weeks. She says the savings in gas and stress is well worth it, not to mention receiving incentives just for sharing the ride. |
Sinclair Jones
Sinclair received the Spotlight Award for ‘Best Reporter’ during the first quarter. He logged 134 trips, including both telework days and transit trips. Sinclair takes advantage of Sprint’s commute alternative incentives offered through Commuter Club.
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Another Reason to Enjoy the Outdoors |
 You have certainly noticed the construction progress of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, but you may not have realized that the area’s sidewalks and streetscapes are getting a makeover to match the venue. When you attend your first event or meeting at the Performing Arts Centre, walk there and take advantage of the enhanced sidewalks and lighting along Akers Mill Road and Cobb Galleria Parkway.
As an added bonus, the sidewalks connect to area trails, further boosting the foot- and cycle-friendly area surrounding the venue. By committing more than $1.5 million, the Cumberland CID will work with the Atlanta
Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)
to complete the $5.2 million streetscaping project.
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News from the Northeast |
 The Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID) and Cobb County are working together to improve roads and streetscapes. This ensures the time you spend in Cumberland Galleria, whether it is working, living or both, will be pleasant and stress-free.
Improvements at four intersections along the Terrell Mill Road corridor will make driving simpler for East Cobb commuters. At Old Canton Road and Lower Roswell Road, a continuously flowing through-lane prevents cars from backing up at the traffic light. And, at Delk Road and Terrell Mill Road, the traffic signal is timed for double green light capacity, allowing for efficient travel on Terrell Mill Road. A new straight lane, instead of a right turn lane, keeps cars moving. Both of these improvements translate to a more enjoyable and safer trip for Cumberland Galleria commuters.
The Cumberland CID and the Cobb County DOT will complete two more intersection improvements along the Terrell Mill corridor by late November 2007. Terrell Mill Road at Paper Mill Road and Terrell Mill Road at Lower Roswell Road will both benefit from improvements, which will ease growth for the area’s 300,000+ daily commuters for the next 10 years.
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Bob Callan Trail Open |
 The new multi-use Bob Callan Trail at Rottenwood Creek is open! The 2.1 mile trail begins near the intersection of Interstate North Parkway and Cumberland Boulevard and connects to the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area.
Worldspan employee Tammy Mosely won a new Trek Lime bike at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Congratulations Tammy – see you on the trail!
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