Program aims to reduce single-occupancy vehicle commutes into Boulder with worker incentives.
The City of Boulder is partnering with Commutifi, a local transportation tech company, to launch the Boulder Clean Commute pilot program on April 1, 2024. Boulder Clean Commute encourages Downtown Boulder and Boulder Junction employers and their employees to take advantage of financial incentives to shift commuting behavior away from single-occupancy vehicle trips toward more sustainable transportation options such as public transit, biking or walking.
The program intends to support citywide goals through:
- Reinvesting financial rewards back into our commercial districts to support Boulder businesses and employees.
- Supporting employer programs that shift commutes towards more sustainable options.
- Encouraging use of Boulder’s many multimodal transportation options.
- Reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips and related greenhouse gas emissions.
- Decreasing traffic congestion.
Employers in the Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID, also known as Downtown Boulder) or Boulder Junction Access District (BJAD) are eligible to participate. The city will match employer-provided incentives up to $1.25 per qualified work trip for a total of up to $2.50 per day per employee who commutes sustainably. Eligible trips include carpooling, taking public transit, walking and biking. Employees will receive their cash incentives via a virtual debit card. These rewards can either be spent on local transportation service providers or at CAGID and BJAD district businesses. City-matched funding comes directly from the districts in which reward dollars are reinvested. Participating employers can also apply for the State of Colorado HB2022-1026 tax credit where they can receive a 50% tax credit on any funds they invest in the program.
“As employees continue to return to work, the Boulder Clean Commute program is an exciting step toward rewarding sustainable transit to and from our downtown and Boulder Junction districts,” Community Vitality Director Cris Jones said. “Reinvesting reward dollars back into our Boulder business community supports our city’s economic vibrancy while reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips.”
For more information about the Boulder Clean Commute program, visit the program webpage. This program is a collaboration between the City of Boulder, Boulder Transportation Connections, Downtown Boulder Partnership and Boulder Chamber of Commerce.