VITAL COMMUNITIES
Smart Commute for Workplaces
Vital Communities has for years helped employers lower the costs of commuting to work. Our goal is to reduce the number of people driving alone and:
- Reduce the costs and hassles associated with employee parking
- Make commuting to work a more affordable and enjoyable experience in the Upper Valley
- Promote sustainability within the workplace
- Improve traffic and parking conditions in major employment centers
How We Can Help
What is Smart Commute?
Smart Commute creates a tailored commuting program designed to meet your workplace’s goals and match your employees’ interests. Starting with a short, online survey, we establish baseline data on commuting habits, develop a sustainable commuting plan, and work with you to implement it.
Project Deliverables
- Training of an in-house transportation coordinator
- Personalized commuting plan
- Consulting on commuter benefits packages
- Tracking of emissions reductions and cost savings
- Employee events and contests
Is it Affordable?
Vital Communities offers Smart Commute at no cost thanks to the support of the Vermont Agency of Transportation and our many member organizations and individual donors.
Contact us by email or call Bethany at 802.291.9100 x111 to get your workplace involved.
Commuting Benefits for Employees
Preferred Carpool Parking
Want to reward employees for saving precious parking spaces? Give carpoolers a space close to the entrance. Show your employees, customers, and partners your support for smart commuting. At about $50 per sign, preferred carpool parking is an affordable incentive.
Per Diem Benefit
Want to give your employees the freedom to choose from a variety of options? A per diem benefit of $2-$3 per day can encourage employees to try new options and help them with any new costs, such as bike helmets or transit passes. Or allow commuters to trade in “commuter points” for time off.
Transit Reimbursement
Advance Transit provides free service in the central towns of the Upper Valley, while Stagecoach and Connecticut River Transit offer low fares for long-distance commuter routes. As an employer, you can show your support for transit by purchasing passes for employees or reimbursing them for fares. Plus, employees can deduct up to $260 per month pre-tax for this employee benefit!
According to the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT), the 2018 tax law preserves the commuter benefit. However, a section of the law does eliminate the ability of employers to write-off subsidized parking and transit costs and the bicycle benefit. But, ACT does not predict the tax law will have a major effect on employer-provided transit benefit programs across the country—read their analysis here.
Promote Biking & Walking
Provide bike racks and basic maintenance tools, such as air pumps, Allen wrenches, and spare inner tubes for employee use. Existing wellness programs offer good opportunities to promote biking and walking. Some workplaces also hold drawings for walking shoes, bike helmets, bike lights, and other fun gear.
Success Stories
Lend Your Voice to Local/National Commute Survey
The commutes of many Upper Valley residents have changed significantly due to COVID-19, with many shifting to telecommuting. Now that workplaces are s [...]
Y’all Curbed the Car!
On Friday, May 18, the Upper Valley celebrated its newest holiday: Curb the Car Day.
Riffing off National Bike to Work Day, Curb the Car Day embra [...]
Your Bus in Real-Time.
Not sure when and where to catch Advance Transit or if the bus is on time? Download the Advance Transit Real Time App or check the Where’s My Bus? f [...]
Bike to Work Day at Dartmouth College
Bethany and I arrived bright and early at the Hop at Dartmouth College Friday, May 19, to greet employees and students who arrived that morning on two [...]
Dirty Hands, Clean Bikes
I had a lot of fun teaching a Basic Bike Maintenance workshop at the Upper Valley Haven on April 29, ably assisted by Lisa from the Haven!
A doze [...]
Spring Into Bike Riding Season…
...with practical skills training to get you riding more!
What is Everyday Bicycling?
It’s using your bike for those everyday trips that we all ma [...]
More Bus Service for the Bradford Area and I-91
Exciting new bus service improvements from our partner, Stagecoach Transportation Services!
Expanded RIVER ROUTE (Wells River-Newbury-Bradford-Fa [...]
Office Bike Share
When Vital Communities staff expressed interest in cutting down on car trips to meetings, Transportation Program Manager Aaron Brown found a way to [...]
Your Input Needed – Stagecoach Bus River Route
Do you ride Stagecoach’s River Route? Or would you like to?
Stagecoach is improving efficiency and increasing options on the River Route Bus Ser [...]
Gear Up for Everyday Bicycling
Do you want to bike more? Ready to take the next step, but not quite sure where to start? Vital Communities can help! In just one short hour, parti [...]
Participating Workplaces
* indicates TMA membership
Vital Communities Program News
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Flavors of the Valley 2021: The Fun Goes Digital!
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Slow Cooker Pork Ribs
This recipe is courtesy of The Beeroness. Cook up some Stout & Sriracha Barbecue Sauce to go with these for your next dinner. Ingredients 2 lbs country-style pork ribs 1/4 c tomato paste 3 Tbsp soy sauce 3 Tbsp balsamic ...more
"Light River Junction" Kicks Off May 7 with "Toons and Tones"
https://youtu.be/1CHhlNDazVI The celebratory summer series Light River Junction First Fridays with WRIF kicks off May 7 with a fantastic line-up called "Toons and Tones." Throughout downtown White River, there will FREE outdoor arts to inspire and ...more
April 8: "Investing in Home Creation"
Investing for Home Creation Thursday, April 8, 5:30 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwM8Z2FD3Q The Upper Valley faces a shortage of housing, particularly in the lower-cost sector, that's affecting our ability to be a vibrant, equitable community. This session discussed how even ...more
April 15, 2021: “Putting Your Money to Work Locally: Investing Clubs 101”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnLZ7akjtGw Interested in investing locally but don’t want to do it alone? Investment clubs pool money to collectively invest in local businesses and bring a social aspect to the process – they make investment fun! In this ...more
Valley Quests Open May 1—including a Guided Event to a Vernal Pool!
Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 1: It's a big one for Valley Quests! Not only is May 1 Opening Day for Quests—"treasure hunts" that share the natural and cultural history of 160+ special areas in ...more
Braised Pork + Cabbage: A One-Pot Late Winter Farmers Market Meal
Braised Pork & Cabbage: A One-Pot Late Winter Farmers Market Meal Magazines and radio shows are already gushing about springy greens recipes, but if you’re eating seasonally in the Upper Valley, winter food is still on the table. And ...more
Zucchini Chard Cakes
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve shared this zucchini chard cake recipe with folks this summer. I was sure that as soon as I mentioned zucchini I would be greeted with a sigh ...more
Have an Idea That Could Use a Lift?
New Hampshire Businesses, Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Nonprofits, Community Initiatives: Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen? Want to grow your organization, our community, and the local economy, but don’t have access to capital? The Local Crowd ...more
Free Webinar on Writing Waterway Quests, April 8
Valley Quests are treasure hunts set in special locations around the Upper Valley. Each Quest follows a unique set of clues that teach you about a place’s ecology, wildlife, and history while leading to a ...more
Quest to the Star!
Have you seen the star alight upon Mt. Tom in Woodstock? Wouldn't it be fun to see it up close? You can if you follow the clues of the Mt. Tom Quest. The star traditionally ...more
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Save Energy
This week marks the close of Vital Communities and volunteers’ 2020 Vermont Energy Savings project in seven towns in the Vermont side of the Upper Valley. Vital Communities partnered with Sustainable Woodstock (serving Woodstock, Hartland, ...more
Weatherize Webinar, August 17
Weatherize Webinar with NHSaves Monday, August 17 at Noon Did Covid-19 stop your 2020 weatherization plans in their tracks? NOW is the right time to jump back on the weatherize band wagon. Lower energy bills and cozy ...more
Welcome 31 New Upper Valley Change-makers
Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 on Wednesday, June 10. This event marked the program’s 14th graduating class, as 31 local leaders completed the 10-month program with a ...more
Five Inspiring Stories
On March 18, Vital Communities held a webinar featuring five inspiring stories from energy committees across the Upper Valley. Stories included: Electric charging stations in Bethel An Upper Valley eBike lending library Energy saving window ...more
Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead
Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration. The following are the event’s keynote remarks ...more
Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to the Upper Valley. In 2019, we are pleased to honor ...more
Staff
Bethany Fleishman
Transportation Program Manager
Transportation
Transportation
— Bethany Fleishman, Transportation Program Manager
Bethany Fleishman was born at the old Mary Hitchcock hospital in Hanover, N.H., grew up in West Hartford, Vt., and now lives in Hartford Village, where she can see the White River and the trains from her window. She has a biology degree from St. Lawrence University and has worked in public health outreach, as a line cook in San Francisco, a pastry chef in Hanover, and as a member of the Town of Hartford Selectboard. She serves on the board of directors for both Advance Transit and Upper Valley CarShare and is a lifelong bike commuter.
