What is TravelWise?

TravelWise is a Transportation Management Association (TMA), which provides an assortment of tools and services, aimed at reducing the number of people driving alone to work. The Region of Waterloo is partnering with employers across the region to establish a foundation for the TravelWise program.

 
TravelWise works with organizations to provide innovative strategies that encourage employess to use active and sustainable transportation. Walking, cycling, taking transit or carpooling to work helps to ease parking concerns, relieve traffic congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote healthy lifestyles and improve quality of life.

 
Employers determine many of the circumstances around individual commuting decisions and therefore play a key role in providing healthy, affordable and sustainable transportation choices for employees. Members of TravelWise are already seeing the following benefits:

• Improved access to the best and brightest employees
• Improved transportation services
• Increased employee retention and morale
• Reduced facility costs
• Reduced transportation footprint
• Positive corporate exposure

As a non-profit service, TravelWise relies on support from members to supplement our Regional funding sources.

What services does TravelWise provide?

TravelWise provides programs and services to encourage employees to try sustainable commuting options, and then supports their effort to walk, cycle, carpool, or take transit more often. Participating organizations will gain access to a suite of core services, which include the ridematching program,  the Grand River Transit Corporate Pass,  Emergency Ride Home services, and supportive marketing and information services.

Ridematching for Carpoolers

Our state-of-the-art online ridematching service makes it simple to carpool. Each TravelWise organization has its own ridematching site where employees can create a carpool profile. Searching for a match is quick and easy; users even have the option to connect with other TravelWise organizations across Waterloo Region.

Visit TravelWiseCommute.ca to start carpooling!

Grand River Transit (GRT) Corporate Pass

Employees of TravelWise organizations gain access to discounted transit passes. GRT has developed a new online purchasing tool specifically for TravelWise members, enabling staff to purchase monthly, seasonal or annual passes using their credit card at a discounted rate.

Visit TravelWiseCorporatePass.ca for details.

Emergency Ride Home

When employees begin to carpool, use transit or commit to active transportation as an alternative way to get to work, they are eligible to take part in the Emergency Ride Home program. This program is designed as an insurance policy for participants who do not have immediate access to a vehicle while at work and need to leave in emergency situations.

View and fill out the Emergency Ride Home form.

Employer Reporting

We have integrated simple tools into the TravelWise program, which allow users to easily track their daily commute. Information such as the number of sustainable kilometres travelled and total tones of carbon dioxide reduced are easily accessible. As a TravelWise employer, this information be can used to motivate employees and track successes.

How does TravelWise encourage participation?

Individualized marketing is a proven marketing approach used to attract and identify employees within your organization that may be interested in the TravelWise services available to them. As a perk of membership, staff from the TravelWise team at the Region of Waterloo will facilitate the marketing campaign!

The key element to a successful Employer Individualized Marketing campaign is employee communication. Therefore, the program will require a few hours of time from a designated employee to assist in tasks such as, posting and distributing information, and securing resources for on-site events. Typically, a survey is distributed internally through email, as well. TravelWise provides free giveaways as an incentive to encourage employee participation.

Have questions or want to join?

Contact John Hill, Transportation Demand Management Planner with the Region at 519-575-4019 or send him an email.