Smart Trips is a program of the TPO that promotes alternatives to driving alone to improve your quality of life, reduce traffic congestion, and improve air quality. If you walk, bike, ride the bus, ride an electric scooter, carpool or vanpool, work from home, or work a flexible schedule, you can log that trip and earn rewards!
Log your trips!
Participating in Smart Trips can help you:
- Find travel options that fit your lifestyle
- Find commuting partners in your area
- Earn rewards for logging your trips
Employer Outreach and Education
Smart Trips helps employers design and implement commuter programs for their employees. Our goal is to provide benefits to your employees to encourage them to carpool, vanpool, take transit, bike, or walk to work. We can provide newsletter communications and flyers, marketing materials, and event information to help you promote the program.
Employees get access to online ridematching services, entry in our prize drawings, and access to our Emergency Ride Home services. Smart Trips can provide learning opportunities through lunch & learn events, sharing information at new employee orientations, or by meeting with interested members of management or HR. Our staff can also share information at benefits fairs, Earth Day celebrations, and other special events.
Smart Trips is funded by federal, state and local grants, making it free for employers and employees to participate.
Become a Best Workplace for Commuters!
Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) is a membership program that provides qualified employers with national recognition and an elite designation for offering outstanding commuter benefits. Employers that meet the National Standard of Excellence in commuter benefits can get on the list of Best Workplaces for Commuters.
Qualifying Smart Trip members receive the following benefits:
- Expert assistance with BWC application ($75 value)
- BWC membership ($230 value)
- Inclusion in press release announcing the Best Workplaces for Commuters
*To request assistance applying for BWC, please email smarttrips@knoxplanning.org or call 865-215-2916
Tax Incentives
IRS tax code allows companies to offer employees pre-tax benefits for public transportation and related parking. Smart Trips doesn’t offer tax advice, but we can lead you to resources to help employers and employees money.
Federal Transportation Administration: Internal Revenue Service – Qualified Transportation Fringes – 26 CFR 1.132-9
Internal Revenue Service: Qualified Transportation Fringes – 26 CFR 1.132-9 explained in detail