Mobility Programs Aim To Forge A Sustainable Future For Multifamily Residents

As transportation remains the top contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, cities are taking action to make sustainable transportation easily accessible. One county in particular is working continuously to provide a sustainable future for its residents: Arlington County.

The D.C., Maryland and Virginia area is awash with commuting options, including public transit, bike trails, walking trails, carpooling and vanpooling. And the region has displayed its commitment to sustainable transportation through initiatives including Sustainable D.C. 2.0 and Arlington Transit’s Zero Emission Bus program. 

However, once a place bustling with commuter traffic from all directions prior to the pandemic, the D.C. metro area faces a new reality of record-high commercial property vacancy rates due to the rise of remote and hybrid work models. Residents of Arlington County are spending more time working from home, leading to altered commuter habits.

This is leading areas like Arlington County to rethink how they can still promote sustainable transportation, even while people are spending less time driving to the office and more time working from home. Additionally, office and multifamily buildings looking to increase tenant retention and set themselves apart from the competition are searching for ways to show that they are forward-thinking when it comes to transportation in this new environment. 

“As Arlington’s commercial and multifamily properties continue to face challenges in a changing landscape, it’s become necessary for buildings to rethink how they can incorporate transportation initiatives into their leasing strategies to retain tenants,” said Alberto Fernandez, associate program manager at Arlington Transportation Partners.

Arlington Transportation Partners, or ATP, is Arlington County Commuter Services’ business-to-business transportation demand management arm. Founded in 1998, the company works to implement sustainable transportation programs, including electric vehicle charging, ride-share, and electric bicycles and scooters in the area’s businesses, and commercial and residential spaces.

Fernandez said the county saw major construction and the implementation of its long-term sustainable transportation goals last year. One example is that the region saw the completion of the highly anticipated Silver Metro line extension, providing residents with access to Dulles International Airport. 

In conjunction with the Capital Bikeshare’s equity program, there is now greater demand for e-bikes and scooters. Additionally, the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides Arlington residents and employers with generous tax subsidies to purchase EVs and renovate charging stations.

"The IRA makes considerable tax incentives and credits available to Arlington residents and employers who aim to electrify their buildings and communities," he said.

Fernandez said that commuters who are looking to purchase an EV will have access to tax credits of $7,500 for new cars and $4K for used cars if they meet the income threshold of less than $150K for single filers and less than $300K for joint filers. Developers will also have access to tax credits for electric paneling, battery storage installation and wiring.

Though a variety of commercial and residential developers are acting on such sustainable transportation initiatives, certain companies in Arlington County are working to bring sustainability to a higher standard through ATP’s Champions Program. 

“ATP’s Champions is a rewards program that comprises 225 organizations, including employers, commercial properties and multifamily properties that stand out from the competition in Arlington County, and continue to make it a great place to work and live,” Fernandez said. “These organizations have the opportunity to increase the satisfaction of their employees or residents while tracking their progress towards sustainability goals.”

The more these companies do to promote sustainable transportation, the higher-level reward they receive, including bronze, silver, gold and platinum, he said. Last year, ATP’s Champions Program set the bar high for eco-friendly transportation, especially multifamily developments such as Cortland Rosslyn and The Trove.

Cortland Rosslyn, located in Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood, earned Platinum Level recognition for its commitment to sustainability by installing electric car-sharing, bike storage and e-bike charging stations for its residents. Trove Apartments, located in Columbia Pike in downtown Arlington, distributed pre-loaded SmarTrip cards, memberships to Capital Bikeshare and installed bike rooms and transit information displays around the building to educate residents about the benefits of public transportation.

“Whether it’s through our Champions Program or helping properties and developers with implementing transit benefit programs, ATP can assist with retaining and attracting new talent,” Fernandez said.“In volatile times like these, standing out from the competition can make you a leader in your community.”

This article was produced in collaboration between Arlington Transportation Partners and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

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