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Guidance for Quantifying Emission
Reductions from Best Workplaces
for Commuters Programs for Use
in State Implementation Plans and
Transportation Conformity Determi-
nations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed
a guidance document for states and agencies that are involved in
developing state implementation plans (SIPs) or transportation con-
formity determinations. This document, "Guidance for Quantifying
Emission Reductions from Best Workplaces for Commuters Programs
in State Implementation Plans and Transportation Conformity De-
terminations" (EPA420-8-07-015), explains how agencies can incor-
porate emissions reductions resulting from changes in commuter trip
behavior to their SIPs and transportation conformity determinations.
The guidance explains how providing a high level of commuter ben-
efits, as defined by achievement of the Best Workplaces for Commuters
(BWC) designation, can result in decreased commuter trips, leading to
decreased emissions. It also provides information on using one of the
tools available to quantify these reductions: a newly-revised, spread-
sheet-based calculator called the COMMUTER model.
Best Workplaces for Commuters
BWC, a voluntary program developed by EPA's Office of Transportation and Air
Quality and now administered by the Center for Urban Transportation Research,
aims at achieving measurable environmental benefits in a cost'effective way
without the need for regulation. Employers qualifying to be designated as BWC
must offer excellent commuter benefits that meet the program's "National Standard
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA420-F-07-064
October 2007
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of Excellence." Voluntary programs like BWC can reduce pollution and improve air quality
through strategic partnerships with small and large businesses, citizen groups, industry,
manufacturers, trade associations, and state and local governments.
SIP and Transportation Conformity Determinations
Commuter benefit programs like BWC can offer quantifiable emission reductions. The guidance
document describes the requirements for seeking emissions credit for BWC-related measures in
SIPs and transportation conformity determinations. While various modeling methodologies for
estimating the benefits of BWC-related measures are available, state and local agencies seeking
reductions for SIPs or conformity should engage in a consultation process with EPA regarding
appropriate methodologies.
COMMUTER Model
EPA has updated the COMMUTER model, first released in 2001, to assist worksite
transportation coordinators and local planners in estimating the impacts of commuter programs
like BWC. The 2005 revision interfaces with EPA's current MOBILE6.2 emission factor model
and adds the capacity to estimate how a commuter benefit can impact particulate matter,
air toxics emissions, and fuel use and costs. Running the model requires the user to provide
information on the number of employees covered and the types of benefits offered to them. The
COMMUTER model allows users to input local-specific travel data, and emissions factors based
on a MOBILE6.2 run representing the area. The MOBILE6.2 look-up tables for emission factors
in the COMMUTER model can be used to provide a preliminary estimate on what reductions
are produced. If you choose to use the COMMUTER model to quantify emission reductions
for SIP or transportation conformity purposes, you should use your own locally-generated
MOBILE6.2 emission factors and local travel activity data to calculate emission reductions.
Bundled Measures
The guidance "Incorporating Bundled Measures in a State Implementation Plan (SIP)" released
in August 2005 describes an option for how BWC-related activities could be "bundled" with
other voluntary measures for SIP purposes. In cases where many small employers in an area are
implementing BWC-related activities, it may be appropriate to consult this guidance along with
the Bundled Measures guidance to quantify and account for the expected emission reductions.
For More Information
You can access the guidance, the COMMUTER model, and related documents on the Office of
Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) Web site at:
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/policy/pag_transp.htm
For questions regarding this guidance:
Mary Walsh
734-214-4205
walsh.mary@epa.gov
Guidance for Quantifying and Using Emission Reductions
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For questions regarding BWC measures in transportation conformity determinations:
Meg Patulski
734-214-4842
patulski.meg@epa.gov
For questions regarding the COMMUTER model:
Erik Herzog
734-214-4487
herzog.erik@epa.gov
For more information about Best Workplaces for Commuters, visit the Web site at
www.bestworkplaces.org, or send an e-mail message to info@bestworkplaces.org.
Guidance for Quantifying and Using Emission Reductions
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