Downtown employers interested in one month of free ORCA passes for their employees still have time to take advantage of the limited offer, one of three new initiatives designed to encourage options to driving alone.

The resources are elements of  Commute Advantage, a program sponsored by the City of Bellevue and administered by TransManage, a service of the Bellevue Downtown Association. Information on the programs is available at Choose Your Way Bellevue. The initiatives include:

• Free ORCA passes: Downtown employers with fewer than 100 workers may be eligible for one month of free ORCA passes (One Regional Card for All) while supplies last. Each transportation pass has a retail value of up to $90. To qualify, employers must participate in a Commute Advantage consultation by Dec. 11. Consultations help employers develop a customized commute program for their companies. To learn more, e-mail commuteadvantage@bellevuedowntown.org.
• Free workshop/webinars on telework: The city is sponsoring a free workshop at City Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 9 (to RSVP, e-mail commuteadvantage@bellevuedowntown.org), and webinars (a web-based seminar) on Thursday, Dec 10, and Tuesday, Dec 15 for employers who want to learn more about establishing or enhancing a telework, or work-from-home, program.
• Bicycle repair service: A bicycle maintenance and repair service is now available every Tuesday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Commuter Connection facility, located in the Rider Services Building of the Bellevue Transit Center, at Northeast Sixth Street and 108th Avenue Northeast. There will also be some free minor repair days, scheduled throughout the year, starting Jan. 19. For dates and more information online, visit Choose Your Way Bellevue. 

Additional support for the Commute Advantage programs comes from King County Metro, the state Department of Transportation and the federal government.

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