A study conducted in 2016 showed that 54% of Montréal workers travel to work by car. 1 And yet the burnout rate is highest among drivers who spend over 20 minutes at the wheel. 2
Since transportation has a negative impact on society, companies and their employees, the city’s business community places a great deal of importance on fluid personal travel.
With the “Employers take action for sustainable mobility” pilot project, the Chamber of Commerce is encouraging companies to introduce measures to reduce solo car use for getting to and from work. It is offering them support for introducing sustainable mobility measures to reduce traffic in Montréal and increase employee well-being and productivity.
“The Chamber is proud to coordinate this pilot project, the goal of which is to make the business community aware of the issue of sustainable mobility and promote good practices. With the support of the Ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports and the Fonds d'action québécois pour le développement durable, and with the cooperation of commuter management centres MOBA and Voyagez Futé, the Chamber will help companies and institutions introduce concrete measures to reduce employee travel, particularly during rush hour in the city. I would like to congratulate the companies that have joined us in a commitment to taking this step toward sustainable mobility.”
Michel Leblanc, President and CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal
To help improve the quality of life of thousands of Montréal employees and increase their motivation and efficiency at work, companies can get involved in the “Employers take action for sustainable mobility” project in one of two ways:
- either as participating organizations, like Aéroports de Montréal, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, IKEA, Polytechnique Montréal, Nexus 40-13, UQAM and Veolia;
- or as mentors, like Desjardins, Hydro-Québec, the Société de développement Angus, the Commission de la construction du Québec and Ædifica.
Seven leading Montréal companies explain why they are taking part in the “Employers take action for sustainable mobility” project
“As a socially responsible company, Aéroports de Montréal wants to limit the impact of its activities on the environment. Introducing this initiative, the goal of which is to reduce solo car use and promote public transit, is part of our commitment to sustainable development.”
Joanne Bergeron, Vice President, Sustainable Development, Aéroports de Montréal
“Nexus 40-13 is taking part in the “Employers take action for sustainable mobility” project to review its transportation offer and decide how it can better adapt to the needs of current and future tenants. By promoting alternative modes of transportation and helping reduce greenhouse gas, this project fits with Canderel’s sustainability policy.
The project is meant to ensure better public transit services are in place and to inform Nexus 40-13 employees and its Montréal partners of the transportation options available. New transportation services could be added to the Nexus 40-13 international business centre soon.”
Bradley Birks, Director of Leasing, Nexus 40-13
“IKEA’s vision is to improve the lives of Canadians. IKEA Montréal wants to take action and explore new means of sustainable transportation for getting to the store. This will help reduce emissions and our carbon footprint. Every action counts, whether big or small. Working together is the only way we can have a positive impact on the environment, for the well-being of our partners and our community.”
Alain Cloutier, Store Manager, IKEA Montréal
“Every day, almost 10,000 people descend on Polytechnique Montréal, on the north face of Mont Royal. Reducing solo car use in this stream of traffic is an important goal in our sustainability efforts. It’s a way to protect our living environment, reduce our impact and introduce healthy habits in our community.”
Christophe Guy, CEO, Polytechnique Montréal
“The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is pursuing its commitment to the environment by encouraging sustainable transportation. It wants to reduce solo car use, promote public transit and limit the demand for parking to reduce its environmental footprint.”
Mario Tremblay, Vice-President, Public and Corporate Affairs, Fonds de solidarité FTQ
“Veolia’s mission is “Resourcing the World.” So it is a natural fit for it to take part in this pilot project with the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and the Ville de Montréal. Our number of partners has grown substantially in downtown Montréal, so we need to offer them alternatives to traditional travel. Veolia is creating greater comfort for its partners and more broadly Quebecers, who benefit from reduced traffic and pollution. This effort is in line with our president’s intention to offer solutions that have a positive impact on the environment, people’s well-being and economic prosperity.”
Philippe Blain, Vice-President, Veolia
“With three metro stations – including Berri-UQAM – serving our sprawling campus, UQAM is at the heart of the city’s public transit network. Close to 75% of our students use it regularly. This level of usage shows the importance of sustainable mobility to members of our community. By taking part in the “Employers take action for sustainable mobility” pilot project, UQAM is taking a further step and is committing to promote active transportation, which keeps growing in popularity, particularly within our community. The future of sustainable mobility at UQAM and in Montréal definitely involves active transportation, and our university is proud to be part of this movement.”
Robert Proulx, Rector, UQAM
Mentor companies – major Montréal companies that have shown leadership in sustainable mobility – present the positive results of sustainable transportation measures within their organization.
“When the head office of the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) moved in 2012, it was a big change for the travel habits of employees. When building the new offices, location was an important criterion; we wanted something close to highway, public transit and active transportation infrastructures. These factors were taken into account when we received LEED certification (Gold level). The CCQ then introduced a carpooling program, working with commuter management centre MOBA. In the first few years, CCQ employees reduced solo car use by 9%, and over 20% of the outdoor parking spots are reserved for people who carpool. So in addition to mobilizing employees, the program reduced the need to rent parking and pressure on street parking in the area.”
Joël Champagne, Director of Material Resources, CCQ
“At Desjardins, our Alternative Transportation Program is part of both our strategy for attracting and retaining employees and our efforts to fight climate change. Our 7,000 employees truly appreciate the program’s measures; they are more motivated and mobilized. We reap the daily benefits of this as an employer and a community.”
Pauline D’Amboise, Secretary General and Vice-President of Governance and Sustainable Development, Desjardins Group
“At Hydro-Québec, we are, of course, at the heart of the energy revolution and the electrification of transportation. But active transportation is also encouraged through a number of initiatives. One of the most popular is the infrastructure we have created for employees who bike to work. We have secure bike parking in most buildings in the province as well as showers and lockers. In 2016, the free bike tune-up campaign for employees who use this mode of transportation to get to work resulted in 174 bikes being tuned up during four workshops in Montréal and Québec City. For buildings not served by the program, we reimbursed 42 claims for tune-ups worth $40. We believe that encouraging active transportation contributes to the well-being of our employees and relieves pressure on the roads.”
Daniel Boudreau, Environmental Performance Advisor, Hydro-Québec
“To increase the site’s appeal to companies and future users, the Société de développement Angus team developed an integrated public and active transportation strategy. We are the first real estate management company to introduce the Mobility Passport to encourage companies and their employees to use alternatives to solo driving to get to work. The passport includes an annual pass for STM and BIXI along with a Communauto membership. This initiative earned us the Sustainable Transportation Leadership Award in 2016. This is in addition to electric charging stations and indoor and outdoor bike racks at the site.”
Christian Yaccarini, President and CEO, Angus
“As a company operating downtown, we have access to a range of sustainable transportation solutions. Our challenge was to increase their use, both for day-to-day transportation and for business travel. This is why we created a series of measures and incentives that have been a big success.”
Mélanie Pitre, Director, Sustainable Development, Ædifica
Follow their example and become a model of sustainable mobility
Are you interested in the topic?
Find out more about our “Employers take action for sustainable mobility” project
Be sure to read:
Information brief
Sustainable Mobility Pays!
Articles
Reduce pressure on roads by becoming a sustainable mobility role model
1 CROP-CRHA survey, 2016.
2 Annie BARRECK, Navettage et épuisement professionnel selon la région et le moyen de transport, Université de Montréal, 2015.