In 2020, the pandemic altered the landscape for commercial buildings. Technology has allowed people to work from anywhere which has driven employers to rethink their office space and presented commercial buildings with challenges.

With better days on the horizon, Arlington Transportation Partners’ Champions program for sustainable transportation can help buildings attract new tenants and retain existing ones. Created by Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) and supported by Arlington County Commuter Services (ACCS), Champions is an annual, year-long initiative that recognizes and rewards Arlington businesses, multi-family communities, commercial properties, hotels, and schools for their commitment to transportation programs.

Participants have incorporated and enhanced transportation benefits and amenities that make it easier for employees, residents, and visitors to bike, walk, take public transit, and share the ride.

As your building prepares to welcome back tenants and employers, it is imperative to keep the commute at the top of your agenda. Staying ahead of changing commuting habits and understanding commuters’ needs will allow your property to stand out from the competition.

Through Champions, you can ensure that your building is ready to perform in the short-term and is ahead of the curve in the long-term.

“As commercial buildings plan for their tenants’ return to the workspace, it is imperative for building owners and developers to understand these innovative transportation options that are going to support their tenant’s new commute habits, impact their bottom line and carry their assets into the post-pandemic world” says Dagmawi Alemayehu, Business Development Manager at Arlington Transportation Partners.    

Champions recognizes properties in Arlington County who are on the forefront of creating places that work for their occupants and connecting residents and employees with transportation modes and resources around them. Become a leader in your community when you sign up today!

Building Fully Functional Bike Facilities

More urban dwellers are choosing active transportation and are arriving to work by bike or on foot. Gold Champion Waterview Office Towers (JLL) has increased bike parking both on the exterior of the building as well as the secure indoor bike room. There, commuters can park their bikes in a controlled-access space, make minor repairs, and lock their belongings away while they shower and prepare for the workday. To promote this amenity, they hold bike tune-up events to get tenants comfortable with the idea of biking to work.

A good complement to a bike room is a docking station for people to park rented scooters. This gives scooter commuters a place to park safely, while also corralling scooters from scattering on sidewalks.

Improving Real-Time Transit Displays and Tech

The Platinum Champion this year, Central Place (JBG Smith), invested in a well-placed live transportation display near building exits that lets people know about their transportation options at-a-glance on their way out. These screens can be customized to include other building information and announcements. Tenants can also download a desktop plug-in to see live updates before leaving their seats.

Establishing Geo-Fenced Ridesharing

It’s easy to commute flexibly and car-free, but sometimes business travel demands the use of a car. The team at 3001 & 3003 Washington Boulevard (Transwestern), a Gold level Champion, purchased geo-fenced Lyft codes for a tenant’s employees to easily get to meetings at the Pentagon for free. This gave employees the peace of mind to get work done during the day without having to give up their sustainable commutes.

Look back at the Champions from 2020 for inspiration. Enroll in Champions today and join the ranks of JBG Smith, JLL, Transwestern, and more in shaping the future of Arlington County.