Workplace Travel Planning Project

The Workplace Travel Planning project, lead by Sonya De Vellis, provides employees with their requested commute information, one-on-one route planning and incentives to entice behavioural changes, with the goal of reducing single-occupant vehicle trips. Throughout June and July, SCMRH staff will deliver customized commute packages, which include cycling maps, transit guides and information about finding a carpool match, and hold one-on-one route planning sessions using the Smart Commute Online Tool with 59 employees at five of our SCMRH Workplaces (WSP, Qualcomm, IBM, AMD and City of Markham). 

Sonya De Vellis engaging with Qualcomm employees about the WTP project.

Wincy Tsang and interested participants for the WTP project at AMD.

Transit Project

In May, SCMRH embarked on a 5 month Transit Project, which provides SCMRH Workplace employees, who are single-occupant drivers, the opportunity to take public transit to work. Lead by Calvin Cheung, the project involves 49 participants, all of whom were provided a pre-loaded $15 PRESTO card, as an incentive, to start their transit journeys. We'd like to extend a thank you to all the participants, Richard Wizemann and Genevieve Singh from YRT/Viva and SCMRH Workplaces (AMD, Honda, LEA Consulting, WSP, AECOM Markham and AECOM Richmond Hill) for their continued involvement and support for the Transit Project. 

Sidra Mukhtar delivered a one-on-one route planning session to the Transit Project participant using the Smart Commute Online Tool.

Calvin Cheung, Sidra Mukhtar and Samantha Maurice interacting with Transit Project participants at AMD.

GO Station Access

Throughout May and June, SCMRH visited Langstaff, Mount Joy and Unionville GO Stations to survey riders on their modes of accessing the station and to promote alternate commuting options. GO Station Access allows GO commuters to share their commute and provide feedback on their willingness to try sustainable modes, which will be shared with Metrolinx to improve the way riders access the station. We'd like to thank Shawn Smith, Darryl Young and Alex Butler, from the Regional Municipality of York, for their support and involvement in gathering feedback from commuters. 

Samantha Maurice promoting the GO Station Access survey to Langstaff GO riders.

Samantha Maurice and Darryl Young, from York Region, at Mount Joy GO Station.

Calvin Cheung promoting alternative commuting options to commuters accessing the Mount Joy GO Station.

Cycling Promotion on Highway 7

The Cycling Promotion on Highway 7 project provides SCMRH Workplace employees with knowledge and safety training to increase their cycling confidence and skills, leading up to Bike to Work Day 2017 and Bike Month. With the help and knowledge of instructor Devin Benczik, SCMRH delivered Cycling 101 workshops to answer questions and provide insight to all things cycling. Additionally, we are in the process of creating a Bicycle User Group Guide to offer additional information to our workplaces with the goal of increasing cycling among employees. 

Instructor Devin Benczik offering cycling safety tips to LEA Consulting employees.

Instructor Devin Benzik providing cycling safety tips to Honda employees.

Mayor's Annual Business Address and Luncheon

On Tuesday June 13, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti addressed the Markham business community about sustainability initiatives at the City of Markham. SCMRH networked and interacted with members of the local business community and SCMRH workplaces. Click here  to view more photos from the Mayor's Annual Business Address and Luncheon.

SCMRH staff with Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti at the Mayor's Annual Business Address and Luncheon. Photo by: City of Markham

Bike Month Lunch & Learn with Metrolinx Chief Planning Officer, Leslie Woo

The future is green for sustainable commuting in York Region! Leslie Woo, Metrolinx's Chief Planning Officer, addressed City of Markham employees about the future of sustainable commuting. With over $36 billion in committed projects, Ms. Woo discussed the future infrastructure projects that will connect the Region, such as GO Rail transformation, GO expansion with faster and more frequent services, Eglinton Crosstown, Hamilton and Hurontario LRTs, bus rapid transit in Newmarket and showcased her support for the Smart Commute program.

Metrolinx Chief Planning Officer Leslie Woo (center left) with City of Markham employees and SCMRH staff at the Bike Month Lunch & Learn. Photo by: City of Markham

Seneca Fair at Seneca Markham

SCMRH staff visited Seneca Markham for the Seneca Fair, where we educated students and staff on sustainable commuting options to access the Seneca Markham Campus by providing cycling maps, carpool ride-matching info and transit schedules to students and staff.

SCMRH staff speaking with Seneca Markham staff and students about sustainable commuting options.