Commute Time

Commute times are a meaningful indicator of the quality of life in Marin: long commutes can contribute to increased cost of living, employee reliability and work/life balance, stress and increased vehicle emissions.  Long commute times and high cost of living can serve as a challenge for local employers working to engage a diverse and talented workforce. The 2019 Marin County Resident survey suggests that commute time, traffic and transportation are a major priority for many residents. Although Marin residents experience traffic and commutes as a challenge, the county also ranks highly compared to similar communities regarding availability of pedestrian and bicycle transportation options. A 2013 survey conducted by the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) in partnership with Marin Economic Forum and 511.org outlined key issues facing Marin County resident commutes and provided recommendations about improving availability and education about commute alternatives.

The Marin County RideGreen Commute Alternatives Program aims to address the greenhouse gas impacts of County of Marin employees driving to work alone. In October 2016, the Board of Supervisors approved the program to empower employees to ride green and save directly on commute costs by using environmentally conscious alternatives to single occupancy vehicles.