Alternative Transportation
The following are laws, policies, and guidelines that support federal agency employees who commute to work by means other than single-occupancy traditional fuel vehicles. “Alternative transportation” modes are telecommuting, carpools, vanpools, public transportation, bicycling, walking, and running. These commute methods are relevant to employee health in two ways:
- A reduction in the use of single-occupancy vehicles helps reduce environmental fuel emissions.
- Employees who use “active transport” (public transportation, bicycling, and walking) to commute to work may increase their daily physical activity.
This list of policies is not meant to be exhaustive; for example, it does not include individual state policies. The purpose of this list is to inform federal agency workforce health promotion (WHP) planners about key policies related to alternative commuter methods. As federal agencies are deciding how to apply the policies, we encourage obtaining agency legal counsel to help determine what is appropriate for your workforce.
- General Workforce Health Promotion
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Policies
- Health and Human Services (HHS) Policies
- CDC Policies
General Workforce Health Promotion
The following policies support reducing
the use of single occupancy traditional fuel vehicles for reducing fuel
emissions, reducing traffic congestion, and conserving energy.
Presidential Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Subject: Energy and Fuel Conservation by Federal Agencies. In response
to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, directs agencies to take appropriate
actions to conserve natural gas, electricity, gasoline, and diesel fuel,
and to encourage employees to carpool, telecommute, and use public
transportation to reduce fuel use. Dated 9/26/05.
5 U.S.C. § 7905
Programs to Encourage Commuting by Means Other Than Single-Occupancy Motor
Vehicles. The head of each federal agency may establish a program to
encourage employees to use means other than single-occupancy motor
vehicles to commute to and from work. Such a program may include
incentives in the form of transit passes (and cash reimbursements under
certain circumstances), and non-monetary incentives which the agency head
may otherwise offer under any other provision of law or other authority.
Dated 1/19/04.
Telework Laws
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provides an overview of many public
laws that address teleworking in federal agencies.
Executive Order 13150 — Federal Workforce Transportation
Directs federal agencies to implement a transportation fringe benefit
program that offers qualified federal employees the option to exclude from
taxable wages and compensation, consistent with section 132 of title 26,
United States Code, employee commuting costs incurred through the use of
mass transportation and vanpools, not to exceed the maximum level allowed
by law (26 U.S.C. 132 (f)(2)). Federal agencies are also encouraged to use
non-monetary incentives to encourage mass transportation and vanpool use.
Dated 4/21/00.
Executive Order 12191 — Federal Facility Ridesharing Program
Executive agencies shall promote the use of ridesharing (carpools,
vanpools, privately leased buses, public transportation, and other
multi-occupancy modes of travel) by personnel working at federal
facilities. Dated 2/1/80.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Policies
Interagency Telework
Site
A Web site that provides access to telework guidance issued by both the
OPM and General Services Administration (GSA).
Includes information on telework policies.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Policies
HHS
Telecommuting Program Policy
This policy provides implementing guidelines for carrying out the
requirements of Section 359 of Public Law 106-346 cited above. These
implementing guidelines apply to the establishment of telecommuting
programs in HHS.
CDC Policies
Alternative Work Schedules
(PDF-391k)
Allows employees to vary daily arrival/departure times within a flexible
band of time and extend lunch periods up to an additional 1½ hours.
Atlanta Area Parking
Policy (PDF-162k)
Guidelines for parking privately owned vehicles on major Atlanta area CDC
campuses. Describes priority of parking space allocation, including van
and carpools.
Design and Construction Guidelines and Standards (PDF-11Mb)
Establishes minimum design and construction criteria for new buildings,
major/minor renovations, and facility improvements for CDC-owned or leased
construction. Addresses bicycle racks and sidewalks for pedestrian
circulation.
Fare Share Program (PDF-215k)
CDC employees may be reimbursed for expenses associated with the use of
public transportation to and from work, not to exceed the maximum
allowable by law per month.
Telecommuting Policy for Civilian
Employees (PDF-235k)
Guidelines for allowing CDC employees to perform duties from their home or
other approved work sites.
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Page last updated: May 22, 2007
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
