The imperative to take action on congestion is high.

Seventy percent (70%) of our major highways in the Toronto area are congested during peak hours and Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation estimates that we will see a 55% increase in car travel by 2021.

Toronto’s central area alone sees over 100,000 in-bound trips in the morning rush. Despite the growth in car ownership and number of drivers over the years, we have only seen a 4% change in these numbers from 1981 to 2001. This demonstrates that our road system is at capacity.

And it’s not going to get any better. Over the next 20-30 years, we expect 100,000 new residents and 100,000 new jobs in the downtown core.

Benefits

Smart Commute plays an important role in addressing congestion and its effects. It also has a number of other benefits for property managers, businesses and employees:

• A more attractive workplace for potential recruits: in today’s competitive HR market, a company that provides flexibility and access to more commute options is seen as a more attractive workplace. Similarly, property managers who offer Smart Commute programs are more attractive to potential tenants.
• Better employee retention: employees who are pleased with their commutes are more likely to stick around, leading to savings for your company. Recruiting and training a new employee can cost between 50% and 150% of his or her annual salary.
• Increased employee productivity: employees who use smart alternatives for their commute to work are more likely to arrive on time and be less stressed than those who drive alone.
• Reduced parking requirements: less demand for employee parking will free up spots for customers and visitors and can potentially lead to reduced parking needs.
• Public Profile: companies and property managers can strengthen greening programs, improve visibility and be seen as champions of sustainability by implementing Smart Commute programs onsite.
• Better air quality: Smart Commute takes cars off the road, leading to fewer emissions of smog and climate change causing pollutants.
• Less congestion: Fewer cars also mean less congestion – a significant concern in Toronto that causes billions of dollars in economic impact.