Press Releases
02/09/2021
CTDOT RECOGNIZES 149 CONNECTICUT EMPLOYERS AS “2021 TRANSPORTATION LEADERS” - Annual distinction recognizes leadership in promoting cleaner commute options for employees
Today, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) honored 149 employers from across the State of Connecticut as part of CTrides Transportation Leaders Program. The 2021 Transportation Leaders recipients represent public and private sector employers who have shown a commitment to encouraging their employees to use cleaner commuting options, which reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate traffic congestion, and support health and wellness. With distinctions for Gold, Silver and Bronze achievements, CTDOT honored this year’s recipients during a virtual ceremony, which was emceed by Dennis House, Chief Political Anchor for News 8 (WTNH).
Becoming a Transportation Leader is a voluntary annual commitment to work with CTrides, CTDOT’s transportation demand management team, to educate, encourage, and incentivize employees to drive less and use the state’s extensive network of rail and bus services, share a ride, bike, walk or telecommute.
“We salute these Connecticut employers in helping their employees find better ways to commute than driving alone,” stated CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. “While many employees are working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these organizations continue to promote more sustainable commuting habits that benefit all Connecticut residents with less traffic congestion and improved air quality.”
This year’s honorees included 17 Gold, 56 Silver, and 76 Bronze “Transportation Leader” employers, which represent nearly 200,000 employees in Connecticut.
At today’s virtual ceremony, Michael Vigneat, CEO of GreatBlue Research, highlighted the findings of the 2020 “return to work” survey conducted by CTDOT, which found among other things that there is a big shift in interest among employees to continue working from home at least part-time post-pandemic. Additionally, Mark Soycher, former counsel to the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and current board member of Connecticut Society for Human Resource Management, discussed the employer’s view of the post-COVID future of commuting in Connecticut.
“Membership in the Transportation Leaders Program provides The Jackson Laboratory with incredible resources to educate, engage and assist our employees in exploring transportation opportunities that align with our core values and build upon our own efforts to minimize the impact of our institution, and on the environment,” said Charles Lee, Scientific Director of the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine –a Gold Transportation Leader.
The CTrides Transportation Leaders Program was developed to support employers who wanted to help the state address the harmful impacts of driving alone, while also helping to foster more positive commuting experiences for their employees. In Connecticut, 38 percent of all greenhouse gases come from transportation. A national study has found that slightly more than one in five employees have left a job due to a problematic commute.
Employers can join the Transportation Leaders program at any time. Like all CTrides services, membership is free and only requires that the organization works with CTrides to institute one or more educational or promotional activities that introduce their employees to sustainable commuting options.
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CTrides, a service of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, works with employers and the public to improve employees commute to work by using sustainable modes of transportation while helping to reduce traffic congestion and harmful emissions from unnecessary driving. For more information on becoming a Transportation Leader or about other CTrides programs, contact CTrides at info@ctrides.com, visit www.CTrides.com, or call 1-877-CTrides (1-877-287-4337).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: 860-594-3003
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CTDOTOfficial