The City of Alexandria’s Transportation Demand Management Program, GO Alex, and SmartBenefits, a commuter benefits program that allows employers to offer tax-free transit benefits to their employees, have earned recognition from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).
Alexandria was one of three organizations to receive a 2025 Employer Award at the 28th annual ceremony held at the National Press Club on Wednesday (June 25).
Comprehensive Benefits Package
Alexandria’s program offers a multi-faceted approach to alternative transportation. The city subsidizes employees who use public transit and qualified vanpool services through SmartBenefits, while cyclists and pedestrians can access shower facilities, lockers, and covered bike racks at most worksites. City employees also receive free annual Capital Bikeshare memberships.
In a unique housing incentive, eligible employees living outside Alexandria can obtain interest-free, deferred payment loans of up to $15,000 to help purchase homes within the city limits, directly shortening their daily commutes. Additionally, nearly one-third of city employees are eligible to telework up to two days per week.
The program’s success is reflected in its measurable impact: Alexandria employees reduced 4,974,000 single-occupant vehicle miles traveled in 2024, while saving 226,091 gallons of gasoline.
Here’s what COG shared about Alexandria.
The City of Alexandria, Virginia, received a 2025 Employer Award for its commitment to providing a range of flexible commuting options. The City’s Transportation Demand Management Program, GO Alex, focuses on reducing single occupant vehicle (SOV) travel. Through SmartBenefits, the City subsidizes employees who use public transit and qualified vanpool services. For those on bike or foot, shower facilities, lockers, and covered bike racks are available at most worksites, and employees can obtain annual Capital Bikeshare memberships for free. To shorten commutes, eligible employees living outside the city are offered an interest-free, deferred payment loan of up to $15,000 to help purchase a home within the City. Additionally, nearly a third of employees can telework up to two days per week. In 2024, the City of Alexandria helped reduce 4,974,000 SOV employee miles traveled and saved 226,091 gallons of gas.
Regional Context
Alexandria was recognized alongside the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), also based in Alexandria, and the Washington Headquarters Services of Arlington County. The ceremony also announced winners of COG’s first-ever goDMV Commuter Competition, where 41 regional employers encouraged employees to log sustainable trips over three months, collectively reducing 425,000 single-occupant vehicle miles.
“By making alternative transportation easier, these organizations are improving how our region moves,” said James Walkinshaw, Chair of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at COG. “Empowering employees to choose different transit options paves the way for cleaner air, less road congestion, and better mobility.”
The recognition reinforces Alexandria’s position as a regional leader in sustainable transportation policy, demonstrating how municipal employers can significantly impact regional air quality and traffic congestion through comprehensive employee benefits programs.
“These organizations demonstrate how alternative commuting options can benefit both the workforce and the environment, and we hope their efforts inspire others in the region,” said Daniel Sheehan, Commuter Connections Director.
