Transportation

Your business can make a positive difference in the daily lives of your employees, improve air quality and safety in our community, and greatly contribute to solving the climate crisis by supporting sustainable transportation opportunities. PACE advisors can help connect you with the many resources listed below and many other organizations in Boulder County are available to help your business with sustainable transportation options.

Rebates, discounts, and tax credits are available from different sources – including transportation service providers, utilities, dealerships, and different levels of government. Below, you can find available incentives or where to go for more information.

It is a great time to purchase an electric vehicle (EV)! There are incentives for electric vehicles including a State of Colorado grant program, a state tax credit, a state vehicle sales tax exemption, and federal tax credits. Incentives vary based on vehicle use, fuel type, and vehicle weight.

Learn more by visiting Drive Clean Colorado’s Incentives and Funding Opportunities website or by contacting ReCharge Coach Jenna Wyatt via email or by phone at 720-803-0553.

Transportation is the greatest source of carbon pollution in Colorado. EVs create 50% less carbon pollution than gas cars on average, and our electricity is getting cleaner every day. Employees are 20 times more likely to purchase an EV when their workplace provides charging stations at work, and both workplace and public charging provide equitable charging solutions for employees and community members who don’t have easy home access to charging. The incentives available for EV charging through state, federal, and utility incentives are listed below.  

The Colorado Clean Diesel Program is designed to reduce emissions from a variety of diesel machines by replacing existing diesel equipment with all-electric or hybrid-electric alternatives. This program provides grants on a rolling basis, and funding amounts depend on the efficiency of the replacement technology. Visit their website for more information on applicant eligibility, funding amounts, and supported equipment types. 

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates the majority of bus services and routes in Boulder County. An RTD EcoPass provides unlimited rides on all local and regional RTD bus and light rail service, as well as the SkyRide bus to Denver International Airport. Employees with an EcoPass are five to nine times more likely to ride the bus than employees without one.

Annual EcoPass plans are steeply discounted compared to individually purchased monthly passes, and can be paid for by the employer, employee, or both. RTD works with businesses of all sizes to design a customized EcoPass plan, with annual costs per employee varying based on the business’s size. Interested businesses can start by completing an Inquiry for EcoPass Information form or by calling 303-299-2132. If the EcoPass isn’t the right option for your business, RTD also allows employers to buy mobile tickets for their employees in bulk or on an as-needed basis.

Some communities and business districts offer large discounts for riding transit, and passes may even be free in your business’s community. These discounts may apply to businesses offering EcoPasses or employees who commute within a community. Click your location below for further details.

Carshare programs offer access to shared vehicles on an appointment basis, providing access to vehicles as needed. For some businesses, a carshare membership can fill the need for a fleet pool vehicle while preventing the overhead cost of managing vehicles internally, and eliminating the need to reimburse employees for mileage and parking. Colorado CarShare is active in Boulder County and offers discounted rates for businesses and nonprofits.

Last-mile or “micromobility” solutions connect transit stops to your business, and they are especially useful for businesses that are located 0.25-1 miles from a bus line. Your support in offering micromobility solutions to your employees or educating employees about existing micromobility solutions can help make bus use viable for your employees and visitors.

Micromobility organizations are currently available in the City of Boulder only and include:

• Boulder BCycle: Bikeshare membership gives employees access to a network of conveniently located bike stations. With a membership, bikes are checked out for free and can be dropped off at any station. Employers can also set up their own bike fleet for employees to use.
• Lime: Use an app to temporarily check out an electric scooter to get around Boulder.

Secure bike storage and parking is a key part of a community’s cycling infrastructure and a simple way for businesses to support cycling for employees and community members.

Businesses interested in adding bike racks should consider the following:

• Inverted U-style bike racks, also known as staple racks, provide the most convenient and secure storage option.
• As e-Bikes continue to gain popularity, highly secure bike storage with adequate room for larger cargo bikes will be increasingly important. Be sure to account for standard and cargo-style e-Bikes when planning for bike racks.
• If possible, provide secure indoor bike storage for your employees and visitors.
• If your business wants to locate bike racks in the right-of-way, you must consult with your municipality or county.

Other resources for making your business bike-friendly include:

• Community Cycles: A non-profit organization that offers a full bike shop, conducts workshops, engages in local advocacy efforts, and provides resources to make cycling more accessible and widespread.
• The League of American Bicyclists: Hosts a Bicycle Friendly Business program that advises businesses on best practices related to employee cycling and provides certifications.

Employees can split commute costs and reduce emissions by vanpooling and carpooling. External carpool and vanpool services are available for businesses to provide to their employees as a commute benefit if internal options are not available.

• Commute with Enterprise
• TreadShare
• WayToGo: Broader Denver Metro Area, which includes all of Boulder County and other communities around Denver.
• VanGo: Northern Front Range, including connections to communities in Boulder County. This is a great resource for employees who commute from Larimer and Weld Counties.

Transportation demand management agencies support organizations like businesses and nonprofits to provide sustainable commute options to their employees, often free of charge. Businesses can reach out to these agencies directly for support.

• Colorado Clean Commute: Provides businesses in the Denver Metro Area with free consulting services to evaluate commute patterns, which includes surveying employees and using this data to create customized trip reduction plans. Colorado Clean Commute also helps businesses access financial incentives related to sustainable commute programs.
• Boulder Transportation Connections: Provides resources to employees, residents, and businesses in the City of Boulder. Specifically, BTC offers consulting services to businesses to analyze employee commute patterns, explore sustainable transportation options, and educate employees. BTC is also an excellent resource for information on transportation options for individuals, relevant incentives, and programs.
• Commuting Solutions: Serves commuters to and from Longmont, Gunbarrel, and Southeast Boulder County by providing resources and information to support sustainable commute options. Businesses can become members of Commuting Solutions to support regional transportation advocacy efforts, and employees can join as Workplace Commute Ambassadors for their organizations.
• Smart Commute: Offers services to employers in Adams County, Brighton, Broomfield, Commerce City, Dacono, Erie, Federal Heights, Firestone, Frederick, Longmont, Northglenn, Thornton, and Westminster. Smart Commute provides consulting services to businesses to collect and analyze commute data, generate a customized strategic plan to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips, and connect to incentives. Smart Commute also offers employee engagement services. For individuals, Smart Commute provides educational resources and programs to increase access to sustainable transportation options.

Additional resources and opportunities include:

• Boulder County Mobility for All: Promotes accessible, affordable, and equitable multimodal (transit, bike, etc.) transportation options for residents of all ages and abilities and to raise awareness that transportation is a basic social, economic, and health need. M4A provides resources related to accessibility, offers consultations with Mobility Specialists, and connects residents to a comprehensive list of the mobility options available in Boulder County.
• Driving Change Report: Created by Colorado Forum and The Nature Conservancy, this report is targeted at Colorado businesses and provides information on sustainable commute options and specific actions that employers can take.