Frequently Asked Questions
Below are your most frequently asked
questions. If your question and/or answer is not posted below and
you would like to ask a question, please feel free to contact us at
253-535-7185 or by email at commute@plu.edu.
What is Commute Smart?
Carpooling, vanpooling, riding the bus, bicycling, walking, working
from home, and compressed work schedules are all forms of smart
commuting.
What makes Commute Smart so smart?
When employees exercise their Commute Smart options, some of the ways they can benefit are:
- Reduced cost for fuel, insurance, vehicle wear-and-tear, and maintenance expenses. To see how much you could save, use the commute cost calculator.
- Reduced stress
- Additional time to read, relax, or talk
- Faster commutes on freeway HOV lanes
- Combined exercise and commute time (with walking or bicycling)
- Stewardship of community and environment
Some of the ways PLU benefits from faculty and staff using smart commute options are:
- Increased employee retention
- Decreased employee stress
- Reduced demand for parking
- Compliance with state Commute Trip Reduction goals
Does working from home count as "Commute Smart" days?
Yes, workdays on which a faculty or staff member works from home
instead of coming to campus count as "Commute Smart" days for benefit
programs such as Relax Rewards and LuteBucks Rewards. Work-from-home
arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis and must be
pre-approved by your supervisor.
Do scheduled days off (vacation or holidays) count as "Commute Smart" days?
No, scheduled days off do not count as Commute Smart days for benefit
programs such as Relax Rewards and LuteBucks Rewards. However, you can count
the day off from a compressed work week, such as a 4/10 work week.
How do I sign up for benefits with the Commute Smart program?
Receiving Commute Smart benefits is fast and easy! To receive Relax
Rewards benefits including LuteBucks and participation in quarterly
drawings, simply track your commute on a monthly Relax Rewards
calendar. Calendars are available on the main page of the Commute website, or from the University Transportation
Coordinator, Gretchen Howell, at commute@plu.edu or 253-535-7185. Please
note that these benefits are for faculty and staff only; not students.
For detailed information on how to get a discounted bus pass, click here.
To request preferred carpool parking privileges, you must fill out the Application for Preferred Carpool Parking in the Campus Safety office.
For help with a Ridematch, check out RideshareOnline.com or contact University Transportation Coordinator, Gretchen Howell at commute@plu.edu or 253-535-7185.
What is Relax Rewards and how do I sign up?
Relax Rewards is a program that supports Commute Smart with quarterly drawings, prizes, and other opportunities.
You can earn one point for every workday you choose a
relaxing Commute Smart option. As your points add up, you earn more
chances to win great quarterly prizes like Visa gift cards!
If you are a full-time smart commuter (4 or more times per week),
you're guaranteed to win a "Premium Dream Reward" each quarter--a movie
ticket, coffee or ice cream certificate, or another fun surprise! After
all, you deserve it!
Participating in the Relax Rewards program is simple--just start
tracking your Commute Smart days using the Relax Rewards calendar, available
from Human Resources. As an added benefit, these calendars also
qualify you for PLU's LuteBucks Rewards program.
Why can't students sign up for Relax Rewards, LuteBucks Rewards, and other Commute Smart prizes?
Many of the benefits of the Commute Smart program (Relax Rewards,
LuteBucks Rewards, etc.) were developed as part of PLU's mandatory
compliance with Washington State's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) law
(RCW 70.94.521-551). The law, passed in 1991 as part of the state's
Clean Air Act, requires affected employers (such as PLU) to establish
programs that encourage employees to find alternatives to drive-alone
commuting. The purpose of the CTR law is to improve air quality, reduce
traffic congestion, and minimize energy consumption. Because the law
applies to employees, so too do many of PLU's benefit programs.
There are programs open to commuter students. If students meet the program qualifications, they can receive PLU's bus pass discount and preferred carpool parking.
Do I have to use my Commute Smart option every single day?
Choosing a Commute Smart option does not mean being locked into one
mode of travel. It is not necessary to use a Commute Smart option every
day to qualify for our programs.
Each program has its own set of requirements. For example, Guaranteed
Ride Home is available anytime you use a Commute Smart option. You
can qualify for LuteBucks Rewards by choosing a Commute Smart option just
four days a month. Check the individual program you are interested in
to find out what the requirements are for that program.
Do I qualify for the bus pass discount?
For detailed information on who qualifies for PLU's discounted bus pass, click here.
Do I qualify for carpool benefits if I carpool with a family member?
Carpooling regularly (at least three days per week) with any person who
is 16 years of age or older qualifies you for carpool benefits. For
detailed rules on eligibility for preferred carpool parking, see Campus Safety's carpool web page.
Do I have to carpool with another PLU faculty or staff member to qualify for carpool benefits?
Your carpool partner can be any person 16 years of age or older. Your
carpool partner does not have to be a PLU employee for you to receive
the benefits of having a registered carpool. For detailed rules on
eligibility for preferred carpool, see Campus Safety's carpool webpage.
What is a Compressed Work Week?
A compressed work week is a type of schedule the reduces the number of
days that an employee works in a given period. The number of hours that
an employee works does not change, however, the distribution of these
hours are changed. For more information about Compressed Work Weeks and
Working From Home, please visit our Commute Smart Alternative & Links Page.
For more information about Commute Smart, please email commute@plu.edu or call (253) 535-7185.
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