Commute Options Memphis

Commute Options Memphis is a community program created to promote transportation choices that improve economic and community health. This project is powered by Innovate Memphis and funded under a TN state grant contract. The Commute Options initiative aims to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicle commute trips in Memphis while increasing the usage of transit, carpooling, bicycling, and walking to work. The drive-alone commute culture pervasive in Memphis negatively impacts our local economy, communities, and environment while contributing to sprawl. Through a historic emphasis on developing more convenient automotive transportation, Memphis positioned itself as less walkable and transit-friendly than our peer cities. Despite ongoing multi-modal transportation improvements, around 80% of Memphians drive alone to and from work each day. The Tennessee Department of Transportation awarded Innovate Memphis a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant to create partnerships with local employers and learning institutions to promote transportation choices that improve economic and community health. While our strategies currently aim to improve transportation choices and culture at our partner worksites, more sustainable change, city-wide, is the ultimate goal for future implementations.