George Mason University is one of four Prince William County employers receiving a shout-out for giving its workers alternative ways to commute to their jobs.

Omni SmartCommute awarded the Gold-Level award to the Prince William campus of the university partly for offering a shuttle bus system to connect the Prince William and Fairfax campuses.

Two 35-passenger shuttle buses run hourly on weekdays, with an added stop at the Manassas Mall where riders can transfer to the public Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission buses. 

University employees also are eligible for the full $230 per month tax-free federal transit benefit. 

American Type Culture Collection, Comcast and Micron Technology also received the recognition. They had to provide at least four benefits or programs to encourage alternatives to driving alone.

The idea is to help reduce traffic by keeping some solo drivers off the road. Omni SmartCommute, which helps companies find such alternatives, encourages teleworking, parking perks for carpoolers, flexible work schedules and shower facilities for cyclists.