With an uncertain economy, fluctuating gas prices, and the rising expenses of maintaining a productive workforce, there is no better time for employers to play a role in improving employee satisfaction, reducing the cost of congestion, and creating more livable communities… all the while, boosting their own bottom lines.

Since 2000, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has helped dozens of Illinois employers reduce their employees’ commutes through Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) benefits. In 2011, in partnership with the Civic Consulting Alliance, MPC launched the Commute Options pilot, working with local employers to design programs that give their workers commute alternatives—including EAH, transit benefits, and ride-sharing—to reduce the number of cars on our roads.

Listen in to the Metropolitan Planning Council’s “Better Commutes, Less Congestion: Employers Unlock the Region’s Gridlock,” a roundtable discussion on how Commute Options is making a difference in solving the Chicago area’s commute challenges. Panelists include participating employers describing their experiences with the pilot and policymakers speaking about the regional benefits of the Commute Options program.

Stacey Reineking Sather, senior vice president and director of public affairs for Charter One, will provide opening remarks and introduce the panelists: Jeffrey Rehm, corporate sustainability manager, W.W. Grainger Inc.; Suzanne Carlson, director of environmental affairs, Chicago Public Schools; and Gabe Klein, commissioner, Chicago Department of Transportation.

Recorded Thursday, December 1, 2011 at the Metropolitan Planning Council.