Business-led initiative, Reboot the Commute, encourages area employers to help reduce region’s traffic congestion

Created online guide for organizations to implement flexible policies

 Eighteen local businesses with a total workforce of more than 39,000 announced their commitment to reducing the three-county region’s traffic congestion as part of an effort to Reboot the Commute. Reboot the Commute is an employer-led traffic mitigation campaign, spearheaded by the Economic Leadership Council of Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA), that challenges other employers to help reduce regional traffic congestion. It includes an online guide that organizations can use to implement positive changes by encouraging alternative commuting strategies like telecommuting, staggered start times, ridesharing, and connecting employees to local transit resources like CARTA and LowcountryGO.

Traffic congestion is a critical challenge affecting the quality of life and productivity of our region’s workforce. For decades, investments in transportation infrastructure and affordable housing near job centers haven’t kept up with the region’s steady population growth.

“If we are to create and sustain a community where people and businesses thrive for generations, where we nurture our environment, character and culture – we must invest in infrastructure and housing, and we must remake how we commute,” said Anita Zucker, The InterTech Group CEO and Economic Leadership Council Chair.

Addressing traffic congestion is a priority issue for business, academic, and community leaders throughout the three-county region. During the past year, CRDA’s Economic Leadership Council has worked with public, private, and academic stakeholders to understand current commuting patterns, alternative strategies for employers and employees, and the benefits – to employers, employees, the environment, and our region’s economic competitiveness – of changing greater Charleston’s commuting behaviors.

According to the Charleston Center for Business Research, 80% of area commuters drive alone in a car to work. 60% commute between 6 and 8:30am. If just 4 percent of the region’s commuters change their behavior during peak times, it could completely clear an entire lane of Interstate-526 for all 19 miles. Each resident can immediately be part of the traffic solution by altering how and when they commute and encouraging others to do the same. Some strategies are not viable for certain companies and occupations – but there are many ways to avoid traveling during the most congested times, and the Reboot the Commute Guide outlines those for businesses and commuters alike.

“My family and I are proud to support Reboot the Commute and the Charleston Regional Development Alliance,” said Anita Zucker. “We are thrilled to witness the collaboration of business leaders, government officials, and the Lowcountry’s world-class workforce in an effort to generate immediate and measurable results to the traffic congestion challenges we face. It is this combination of creative thinking and outstanding leadership that will continue to position the Charleston region and South Carolina as a premier destination for businesses and families.”

The 18 organizations who have committed to encouraging their employees to #ReboottheCommute:

Benefitfocus

Boeing South Carolina

Booz Allen Hamilton

Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Charleston Southern University

Charleston Trident Association of Realtors

The Citadel

College of Charleston

Evening Post Industries

Google South Carolina

The InterTech Group

Kiawah Island Golf Resort

MUSC

Roper St. Francis Healthcare

South Carolina Aquarium

Trident Health

Trident Technical College