Workplace resources and news for Loudoun commuters
Spring 2024
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The following articles offer insight for employee transportation coordinators, or anyone arranging commuting options for a Loudoun County workplace. See "Commuter News" for information to share with employees. |
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Loudoun County recognizes Best Workplaces for Commuters
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The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution at its March 5, 2024 meeting honoring organizations recognized by Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC). Ten Loudoun County employers, three worksites and one university were honored for offering employees exceptional commuter benefits.
Asurion, Collins Aerospace, Environmental Enhancements, Equinix, Inova Loudoun Hospital, National Recreation and Park Association, REI Systems, Inc., StoneSprings Hospital Center, and Telos Corporation were recognized as Best Workplaces for Commuters. The Brambleton Group, Loudoun Station and Quantum Park were honored as Best Sites for Commuters. Divine Mercy University was recognized as a Best University for Commuters.
The resolution recognizes each organization for “providing options for commuting, such as transit, carpools, vanpools, telework, and access to biking and walking amenities which are economically and environmentally beneficial, yielding value to workers, employers and our communities.”
As a BWC partner, Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services assists employers with commuting programs and sponsors a BWC membership for qualifying organizations. BWC membership has grown since 2018 when Quantum Park became Loudoun County’s first-ever Best Site for Commuters.
Consider how your workplace can address employee transportation challenges and pursue BWC recognition for 2025. For more information visit loudoun.gov/employerservices or call 703-737-8044.
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Are you ready for Bike to Work Day? |
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Registration is open for Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 17, 2024! This free, annual event celebrates bicycle commuting at 109 pit stop locations in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Pit stop attendees will receive free T-shirts, refreshments, and giveaways. Interested cyclists should register online, and select one location to pick-up a free T-shirt on Bike to Work Day. All participants are welcome to visit additional pit stops for refreshments and fellowship.
New this year, a Purcellville pit stop will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. This location will be hosted by Full Distance Physical Therapy and Wellness at 130 S. 20th St. Other pit stops near Loudoun County include Herndon Innovation Center, Chantilly-Stringfellow, and at the Brunswick MARC Station in Maryland. All regional pit stop details are available on the Bike to Work Day website.
Here are ways to support Bike to Work Day at your workplace:
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Share and display Bike to Work Day posters. (Choose English or Spanish language versions.)
- Recruit an enthusiastic employee to field co-workers’ questions and promote registration.
- Encourage employees to form bike convoys, where interested cyclists identify a time and place to meet and ride together to work.
- Invite remote workers to participate. Suggest riding to a pit stop and home before work.
- Offer extra incentives for your Bike to Work Day participants such as preferred bicycle parking, afternoon snacks, or an employee gift card raffle.
- Schedule an in-person or virtual lunch and learn to help employees prepare for Bike to Work Day. Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services can share safety information and helpful tips including how to combine biking with transit.
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Trim transportation costs with SmartBenefits
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SmartBenefits, a no-fee commuter benefits program administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), is a great way to offset employee transportation costs. Participating employees save money because SmartBenefits allows them to use pre-tax dollars for their bus fare, Metrorail fare or vanpool participation fees. As an employer, you save money on payroll taxes when employees receive qualified transportation fringe benefits.
2024 is a great time to offer SmartBenefits. The Internal Revenue Service now allows up to $315 per month for qualified transportation fringe benefits. Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services enhances the opportunity with SmartBenefits Plu$50. Qualified employees who are interested in riding public transportation can receive free $50 promotional SmarTrip cards when a WMATA SmartBenefits account is established. Enrollment is easy. There are no minimum or maximum participation requirements. No fees are charged to administer transportation benefits.
Find out more about SmartBenefits and the Plu$50 incentive. Contact Judy.Galen@loudoun.gov or call 703-737-8044.
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Vanpools offer customized transit solutions |
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Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services invites you to consider how vanpooling can help long-distance commuters.
Vanpooling is a cost-effective option for employees who live 15 or more miles from work. Groups of four to 15 workers meet at pre-planned times at a central location to travel together. Instead of adding mileage to their personal vehicles, vanpool members ride in leased minivans, SUVs, or passenger vans.
Vanpool participants share driving responsibilities and expenses. Each group identifies at least two drivers and one coordinator. Since vanpooling is a qualified form of transit, each participating employee may use pre-tax dollars to pay the monthly fee for the vehicle lease, fuel, insurance, and maintenance.
Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services can help introduce vanpooling to your employees. We connect you with experienced vanpool providers who facilitate group formation, screen drivers, arrange insurance and offer vehicle leases on a month-to-month basis. Together we provide access to incentives through Vanpool Alliance and Guaranteed Ride Home.
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The following items are ready to share with employees. For more information or additional resources, contact Judy.Galen@loudoun.gov or 703-737-8044. |
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Register for Bike to Work Day |
Registration is open for Bike to Work Day, a fun, free event on Friday, May 17, 2024! New and experienced bicyclists are invited to register and ride to pit stop celebrations for free T-shirts, refreshments, and prizes on Bike to Work Day.
Loudoun County will host pit stops adjacent to the W&OD Trail. The Leesburg location is Raflo Park, 345 Harrison St., S.E. The Sterling pit stop is just east of Route 28 at 183 Ruritan Road. Both pit stops will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
A new Purcellville pit stop will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. This location will be hosted by Full Distance Physical Therapy and Wellness at 130 S. 20th St.
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New brochure shares safe driving tips |
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In preparation for Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, Drive Smart Virginia, a non-profit organization charged with raising awareness and changing behavior in order to improve roadway safety, has updated Buckle up, Phone Down, a brochure offering guidance for safer driving. Here are a few takeaways from this new resource:
Prepare – Address potential technology needs before you start driving. Set your music playlist and GPS if needed. Place your phone out of arm’s reach. Wait until you are safely parked to handle a device or read a message.
Policy – Whether traveling with coworkers, friends, or family, maintain a firm policy against phone use while operating a vehicle. Follow the Virginia law regarding handheld personal communications devices. When traveling as a passenger, offer to help the driver with directions, music, or phone use.
Protect – Make sure everyone in your vehicle uses a seatbelt. Be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists along your route. Be aware of vehicles on the shoulder of the road. Observe the Virginia move over law.
Buckle up, Phone Down and other resources for Distracted Driving Awareness Month are available at DriveSmartVA.org.
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Ride the Silver Line to weekend events |
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Ride Metrorail for an easy, affordable way to reach ballgames, festivals, and other weekend events. When connecting to the Silver Line in Loudoun County at the Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn Metrorail stations consider:
Weekend hours – Metrorail operates from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays and 7 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. Estimate your travel time using online tools, including Google Maps, the WMATA Trip Planner and Transit app.
SmarTrip cards – Metrorail weekend fare is $2 per ride. All passengers 5 or older need a SmarTrip farecard to ride. Purchase cards online or at Metrorail station vending machines. Mobile Wallet options are available.
Connect by bus – Loudoun County Transit operates Route 322 along Atlantic Blvd. to Dulles Town Center and other areas in Sterling on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 10:35 p.m. Park for free at Dulles Town Center Park & Ride, 21021 Atlantic Blvd. Route 322 connects to the Silver Line at Innovation Center Metrorail station located between Washington Dulles International Airport and Herndon.
Kiss and ride – Designated areas for passenger drop-off and pick-up are available at the Ashburn and Loudoun Gateway Metrorail stations. Drivers should remain with their vehicles while waiting for passengers.
Parking at Metrorail stations – Loudoun County offers daily, paid parking at the Loudoun Gateway Metrorail station and on the south side of the Ashburn Metrorail station. Use a SmarTrip card to pay for parking electronically upon exit. Parking is free on federal holidays. Overnight parking is not authorized at County-operated facilities.
Additional parking is available on the north side of the Ashburn Metrorail station in a privately operated garage. Direct inquiries about rates and overnight parking options to support@parkxmanagement.com or call 571-375-0841.
Bike to Metrorail – Free bicycle parking is available inside the Loudoun County-operated garages. Bring a lock to secure your bike. Bicycle lockers are available for customers seeking arrangements for year-round bike parking. When taking a bike on Metrorail, use station elevators, ride in either the first or last train car and follow all Metrorail guidelines.
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Loudoun County adds public EV charging stations |
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Loudoun County has installed new electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations for public use at three county facilities:
- Bluemont Community Center, 33846 Snickersville Turnpike;
- Middleburg Library, 101 Reed St., Middleburg; and
- Sterling Community Center, Enterprise Street, Sterling.
The stations allow simultaneous charging of two vehicles at the Bluemont Community Center and at the Middleburg Library and three vehicles at the Sterling Community Center.
Users of the EV charging stations will be charged $2.10 per session. A session begins when the vehicle is plugged into the EV charging station and ends when the plug is removed, or charging is complete. Payment can only be made at the charging station through a mobile app, which is connected to a credit or debit card.
These are the first county-owned EV charging stations not located at a facility used by commuters. Additional publicly available charging stations and new locations are scheduled to come online over the next year. The county also offers EV charging stations at the Harmony Park and Ride lot and the county’s two Metrorail parking garages.
A map of the locations of the county’s EV charging stations and information about plans to continue to increase the number of county-owned charging stations can be found in the Environment & Energy section of the Loudoun GeoHub.
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Free student membership for planning, sustainability, engineering fields |
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The Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) has launched a free student membership program. This initiative aims to expand access to a community of more than 1,400 professionals in the urban planning, sustainability, engineering, mobility, and transportation fields. Free membership provides students access to professional development, networking opportunities, industry events, webinars, and an online discussion platform.
Students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours at an accredited higher education institution to qualify for free membership. For more information contact membership@actweb.org.
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Thank you for reading Commuter Shortcuts, provided by the employer outreach program for Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services. Our resources and news articles are compiled to assist those who travel to workplaces in Loudoun County, Virginia. As members of Commuter Connections, we offer a wide range of solutions including carpools, vanpools, transit, biking, telework and alternative work schedules. From one-on-one commuting advice to presentations for your entire workforce, we are here to serve you. |
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Judy Galen,
Department of General Services
Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services
209 Gibson Street, NW, Suite 100
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
703-737-8044
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© Copyright 2024 Loudoun County Commuter Services. All rights reserved. |
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