Commute Smart Raleigh

About Commute Smart

Commute Smart Raleigh offers easy solutions to alleviate traffic congestion and employee stress by moving more people in fewer vehicles. Commute Smart Consultants provide advice and assistance on how to increase the use of various transportation options.

Implementing a Commute Smart Program can:

• Increase employee satisfaction
• Reduce the demand for parking
• Reduce tardiness and absenteeism
• Reduce employee stress
• Enhance recruitment and retention
• Enhance your public image

Request a Commute Smart Plan

Request a Commute Smart Plan from our staff to receive a personalized commuting plan. Fill out the form as accurately as possible and our dedicated Commute Smart staff will respond within two weeks with a plan that fits your needs.

2025 Commute Smart Award

This award, presented by Commute Smart Raleigh, recognizes any person or organization that has taken steps to amplify and/or demonstrate sustainable commuting methods, including but not limited to public transit, bicycling, and carpooling.

The goal of the award is to encourage public recognition of those who choose to eliminate single-occupant vehicle travel. It is a part of the City’s Environmental Awards series. The winner will be announced at the City of Raleigh’s Earth Day Celebration in April 2025. 

Eligibility Requirements:
Individual nominees/organizations must be based in Raleigh and have a portion of their commuting efforts either originate or end in Raleigh.

Must be 16+ years old to enter. 
Applicants must complete this online entry form and submit a related photograph (person/project/organization). Self-nominations are encouraged.

Bus & Train

Bus

Riding the bus is the easiest way to get to work when:

• A bus route is within three blocks (1/4 mile) of work and near home;
• There is easy access to a Park & Ride lot;
• Bus schedules meet their work schedules;
• There's safe access between transit stops and your site.

Google Maps now has real-time bus tracking with GoRaleigh! Use a desktop or your phone to plan a trip and see when your bus will arrive, if it is running behind, and more.

For information on how to ride the bus, check out GoRaleigh's Ride Guide. You can also find information about bus fares here.

GoPass 

The GoPass has two options:

1. GoRaleigh only
2. Regional (covers GoRaleigh, GoDurham, GoCary, and GoTriangle)

The GoPass requires a contractual agreement with an organization that allows employees/members/tenants of participating organizations to ride buses for free. The participating organization pays a discounted fare for those who use their organizational GoPass. Contact your Commute Smart Consultant if you are interested in getting a GoPass for your organization. 

Park & Ride

There are many Park & Ride locations in and around the Triangle. Some lots are shared with the businesses that own or lease the property.  There are both Regional or GoRaleigh Park & Ride locations.  

Train

Raleigh Union Station is located downtown. There is Amtrak service from the station four times daily from Raleigh to Durham, Greensboro, Cary and Charlotte. You can also go to Washington, D.C. or other destinations further away. For more information visit Raleigh Union Station Amtrak. 

You can bring your bike on the train. Check here for details.  

Once you reach your train station at the end of your trip, you can use a free bus pass, obtained from the conductor, to get to your final destination.

Car- & Vanpool

To view car- and vanpooling options for your route, visit Share the Ride NC .

Carpooling

A carpool is two or more people commuting. Carpooling is an excellent alternative to driving alone and is a great way for employees to share expenses. As an employer, this is the easiest program to implement and make available to all employees. Preferential parking may be offered as an incentive. 

Vanpooling

A vanpool is made up of five or more commuters who live and work near each other and share approximately the same work hours. GoTriangle provides the van, pays for gas, arranges, oversees and pays for all maintenance. Riders pay a monthly fee to participate. Ask your employer about vanpool subsidies.

Emergency Ride Home & GoPerks

Emergency Ride Home and GoPerks are housed on the Share the Ride NC statewide website and app. Customized work site branded portals are available free of charge for employers. 

Emergency Ride Home (ERH) gets you home if an emergency ever strikes. This service is available to those who commuted to work by a method other than driving alone. Use it if:

• You or an immediate family member gets sick or has a crisis 
• Your carpool driver must leave unexpectedly early or stay late 
• You must work unscheduled overtime 

Employers can register their organization at no cost so that all employees get six free emergency rides home per year. Each employee must register on SharetheRideNC in order to use ERH. 

Share the Ride NC houses GoPerks where employees can log their commute on the commute calendar and enter drawings for a chance to win gift cards for local restaurants and businesses in the Triangle.

Teleworking

Teleworking allows employees to work from a location other than their usual place of business — for example their home, a satellite office or a co-working space. Businesses interested in setting up a telework program should visit nctelework.org. No commute is the best commute.

Creative Work Schedules

Compressed Work Week

A compressed work schedule allows an employee to work a traditional 40-hour week in less than the traditional number of workdays. By allowing employees to adjust their work schedules, companies can use this as a recruiting benefit and employees can eliminate commute trips. An example of a compressed work week could be a 4/10 work week — Forty hours are worked in four 10-hour days, reducing the employee’s commute trips by 20 percent. Read more about Compressed Work Week benefits here.

Flextime

Allowing your employees a more flexible schedule makes it easier for them to use transportation options to driving alone. Under a flextime arrangement, employees are given some degree of choice for their own starting and ending times.

Parking Cash Out

Parking Cash Out programs are also an effective way to encourage employees not to drive to work alone. Under this program, an employer gives employees a choice to keep a parking space at work or accept a cash payment and give up the parking space.

Best Workplace for Commuters

This program is part of Raleigh’s Sustainable Business Toolkit, a collection of programs designed to help businesses and other organizations save money and help reach the goals in the city’s Community Climate Action Plan.

Contact your Commute Smart Consultant to find out how you can become a nationally recognized Best Workplace for Commuters employer. This national award recognizes organizations providing outstanding commuter benefits.