Atlanta’s gridlock can be a stressful start and end to each workday for residents. This was the case for Fritz, an employee at Womble Bond & Dickinson, who drove from his home in Acworth to his job in Atlantic Station for five years. Tired of racking up 50+ miles to work and back each day, Fritz realized he needed a better way to get to work and decided to make the switch to a more relaxing ride on an Xpress bus.

Fritz recently connected with us to share how choosing to ride Xpress proved to be a more reliable, stress-free way to arrive at work.

ASAP+: When did you start working at Atlantic Station, and where are you commuting from?

Fritz: I have worked at Atlantic Station since 2009. I commute from Acworth each day, which is 27 miles each way. Most days I park my car at the Woodstock park-n-ride, and take the 483 Xpress bus.

ASAP+: What led you to start taking Xpress to work?

Fritz: I started taking Xpress about 5 years ago to reduce my stress levels from driving. As the Facilities Manager at Womble Bond & Dickinson, it is important for me to be in the office consistently, and the Xpress commuter bus has proven to be a very reliable way for me to avoid sitting in traffic.

ASAP+: What is your favorite part about riding Xpress?

Fritz: Stress relief! Xpress is comfortable and timely. I know that if I am at the park-n-ride at 6:45 AM, I can be at work by 8 AM. There’s extra planning involved, but it’s worth it. Sometimes I drive to work, but I occasionally find myself heading down to the bus because I’m in the habit of using Xpress.

ASAP+: How do you usually spend your time while riding Xpress?

Fritz: I catch up on emails, take a nap, or read a book.

ASAP+: What tips do you have for people considering changing their commute? 

Fritz: Try it! Don’t underestimate the bus! I’ve noticed that some people have a preconceived notion about taking transit. Xpress is not a typical bus experience. There’s Wi-Fi, seats that recline, reading lights, and personal AC vents. Everyone practices “quiet bus” etiquette so that people can sleep and relax. Plus, SRTA gives riders the capability to track their bus via a phone app.

ASAP+: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your commute? 

Fritz: Taking the bus will add years to your lifespan!  

Integrating flexibility into the workplace is on the rise among companies across the U.S. From small startups to global enterprises, an accelerated force of workplaces are weaving it into the fabric of their operations and culture.

The 2018 Fortune ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ roster boasts many that have embraced workplace flexibility: 79 of the 100 companies offered teleworking in 2018. As more and more embrace flexible arrangements, they’re proving to be a competitive edge to attract a top-tier workforce and sustain an engaged employee culture.

Here are three easy ways you can introduce flexible working to your employees:

• Flexible work hours allow companies to shift employee workday start and end times to avoid peak commute hours. For example, it could mean adjusting start and end times to 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. or 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Telework connects employees with the opportunity to perform their job duties and responsibilities from home. Believe it or not, studies have found that teleworkers and their managers reported improvements in job performance.
• Compressed work weeks let employees work their standard 40-hour week in less than five workdays. For example, instead of the standard 8-hour day, employees can work 10 hours each day from Monday – Thursday, accomplishing the standard number of working hours in a week but having Friday off.

Interested in establishing a flexible work arrangement at your company, but not sure where to start? We’re here to help. Send us a note to get started.

Bike There Day is taking place Friday, May 17. Between  7 – 10 a.m., stop by our Energizer Station, located on 17^th Street outside of the Wells Fargo building, and fuel up for your day with coffee, light breakfast, and Clif Bars.

Take part in our group “Bike Train” ride that leaves Atlantic Station at 7:45 a.m. and travels to Colony Square in Midtown. From there, you can either ride in a Bike Train to Downtown, CDC/Emory, or Buckhead alongside a ride leader. Here’s your sneak peek at the Bike Train routes.

Learn more about Bike There Day and RSVP to save your spot.

Super Bowl LIII and its 10 days of events are happening Saturday, Jan. 26 through Monday, Feb. 4.

What You Can Expect 

• MARTA running 24-hour service (Friday, Feb. 1 – Tuesday, Feb. 5). Plan for longer MARTA wait times during the Super Bowl dates, especially at the Five Points station.
• Bus Route 94 (Northside Dr) is being rerouted. The bus route which services Atlantic Station will be rerouted Saturday, Feb. 2 through Sunday, Feb. 3 due to road closures.
• Bus Route 40 (Peachtree St/Downtown) is being rerouted. The bus route which services the MARTA Arts Center station will be rerouted on Saturday, Feb. 2.
• Atlantic Station Holding Related Events.
  • 680 The Fan’s Superweek Tailgate on Thursday, Jan. 31 from 6 – 11 p.m.
  • Foo Fighters with Run the Jewels on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 10 p.m. – 12 a.m.
  • Big Game Brunch on Sunday, Feb. 3 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Stay Ahead of the Game

• Click here to view MARTA’s Super Bowl schedule.
• Download the MARTA On the Go app.
• Follow MARTA on Twitter for service updates in real-time.

How Atlantic Station Companies Reacted to the Bridge Collapse
Atlantic Station’s long standing tenant, Search Discovery, have called their 271 17th St NW office home since 2013. They are a digital intelligence company with 37 local employees (and 52 remote) who recently found themselves in a position for an entirely new type of innovation. The I-85 bridge collapse left many Atlantans, including those at Search Discovery, scrambling for alternative routes to work.
No stranger to quick thought and action, Search Discovery knew they had to act quickly to keep employees satisfied and productive during the commute chaos. Search Discovery began encouraging employees to utilize the alternative transportation infrastructure available at Atlantic Station – MARTA, Atlantic Station shuttle, bike lanes, safe walking routes – and offering flexible work arrangements for commuters who were unable to take advantage of Atlantic Station’s transportation amenities. Walking and biking into the office became more popular than ever for centrally located employees, while flexible hours and remote working options have been utilized by those unable to make the commute on foot. Search Discovery reports that “employees have taken advantage of flexible hours and working from home, helping them avoid traffic and maximize their work days.” Transit has made an impact on this group as well, with many employees riding MARTA to work for the first time ever. We were thrilled to see how companies of all sizes at Atlantic Station found solutions and made it work!

Do you have a success story to share? Whether it’s about I-85 or otherwise, we would love to hear from you! Share your stories by sending an email to [email protected].

If you are currently registered for the Guaranteed Ride Home program, you will need to re-register for 2018. The 2018 applications are available now – click here to download the form (PDF, 147 KB).

Click here to learn more about Guaranteed Ride Home.