Webinars

Learn about sustainable commuting through free, on-demand webinars

Commuter Services offers a variety of webinars to educate commuters, managers and employers on sustainable commuting topics of interest.

All webinars are recorded, free and available for on-demand viewing. Follow the evolution of telework and hybrid work policies and trends, learn how to get the most from bike commuting, or catch up on transit and construction projects by clicking on any title below.

Upcoming Webinar

Detours Ahead in 2024: I-494 Construction Impacts and Options

Wednesday, March 13 | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

As the Minnesota Department of Transportation gears up for its second year of the I-494 Edina, Bloomington, Richfield road construction, Commuter Services is likewise planning its second webinar to share information about the project.

   • I-494/I-35W roadway and bridge construction
   • Construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities
   • Road and ramp closures/detour routes
   • Ramp reconstruction and realignment
   • Local roadway and utility work

In his presentation, Tim will give background on the I-494: Airport to Hwy. 169 vision, as well as plans for related construction in 2025 and 2026. Information on the adjacent I-494 Bridge over Minnesota River project will also be covered.

Commuter Services will provide information on the free resources available to help ease the burden of traveling in construction traffic.

This webinar will be recorded for on-demand viewing. A link to the recording and slide presentation will be made available to everyone who registers for this webinar.

For background on work executed in 2023, the first year of this four-year project, see the related on-demand webinar, Detours Ahead: I-494 Construction Impacts and Options, posted in the “On-demand Webinars” section of this webpage.

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On-demand Webinar

Detours Ahead: I-494 Construction Impacts and Options

View on-demand

One of the biggest road construction projects in the state’s history is officially underway. In the on-demand webinar, Detours Ahead: I-494 Construction Impacts and Options. Minnesota residents can learn more about this big project.

MnDOT I-494 Airport to Highway 169 Construction Manager Tim Clyne shares project information, including:

Commuter Services also provides information on commute programs and resources available to ease the burden of sitting in construction traffic.

Watch Detours Ahead: I-494 Construction Impacts and Options

View slides for Detours Ahead: I-494 Construction Impacts and Options

Telework

Home Office Ergonomics

March 2022

Learn about common injuries caused by a poor at-home office arrangement and how to remedy both the injuries and office space in the webinar, Home Office Ergonomics. Experts Dr. Sara Cuperus from Chiropractic Performance Center and Dr. Chad Henriksen from Northwestern Health Sciences University’s WorkSiteRight program provide advice for teleworkers and employers alike.

View slides from Home Office Ergonomics

Hybrid and The Future of Work

November 2021

Hybrid and the Future of Work explores the opportunities and challenges that come with managing hybrid and remote teams. In this free webinar, presenter Kevin Eikenberry of the Remote Leadership Institute provides guidance on best practices, relationship building for hybrid and remote teams, management skills and more.

View slides from Hybrid and the Future of Work

Getting it Right - Best Practices for Teleworkers and Their Managers

May 2021

Without the backdrop of a pandemic and the distractions of the past year, telework might look much different in the future. Led by telework expert Elham Shirazi, Getting it Right – Best Practices for Teleworkers and Their Managers provides the training for managers and employees who will be placed in a hybrid or fully remote working arrangement. Telemanagers will learn how to enhance remote management of teams, improve communications, develop goals and deliverables, and track challenges and solutions. Teleworkers will learn how to plan a telework day, communicate with managers and coworkers, set up a home office, and improve productivity while striking a home/life balance.

View slides from Getting it Right – Best Practices for Teleworkers and Their Managers

Working from Home: Lessons Learned Over the Past Year

February 2021

The webinar Working from Home: Lessons Learned Over the Past Year breaks down new information and national trends that have surfaced since last March. Presenter Elham Shirazi uses her 30-plus years in the field of telework to translate data based on employee attitudes about returning to the worksite, mental health and employee wellness, and a host of other compelling topics.

View slides from Working from Home: Lessons Learned Over the Past Year

Telework and the Current Commute

November 2020

Telework and the Current Commute sets the stage for topics of regional conversation through 2020 and well into 2021. This webinar offers data on how commuters feel about telework and a future return to work as it pertains to both personal safety and commute expectations (as of November 2020). It also offers a snapshot of how employers plan to integrate telework into effective, long-term organizational operations.

View slides from Telework and the Current Commute

Commute Programs Overview

Commute Programs for the Return to the Worksite

February 2022

Get a refresher course in sustainable commuting options for commuters and employers alike in the webinar, Commute Programs for the Return to the Worksite. Employers get a high-level overview of Commuter Services’ programs and materials; commuters come away with information on free resources. Anticipated commute trends along the I-494 corridor are included in this webinar.

View slides for Commute Programs for the Return to the Worksite

Bike Commuting

The Handlebar Chronicles

June 2021

See how one bike commuter found inspiration and personal satisfaction in his 18-mile commute in The Handlebar Chronicles. Presenter Paul Klauda has amassed more than 600 photos of the people and scenery he has encountered on the trails, and shares some of the highlights in this webinar. He offers stories, personal reflections and even some photography tips! Klauda is the prep sports editor for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a bike commuter for more than a decade.

View slides from The Handlebar Chronicles

Bicycle Commuting 2.0 – Extending Your Season

October 2020

In Bicycle Commuting 2.0 – Extending Your Season, local bike commuting enthusiast Doug Shidell gives bike commuters tips on how to ride comfortably in all weather conditions. Creator of the Twin Cities Bike Map and consultant for Commuter Services, Shidell will cover a number of topics. Includes: Seeing and being seen after dark, riding in comfort, riding in the rain, cold weather riding, and biking in ice and snow.

View slides from Bicycle Commuting 2.0 – Extending Your Season

Bicycle Commuting Basics

June 2020

Bicycle Commuting Basics will get you ready to ride to work this season! Topics include preparation, clothing and gear recommendations, route planning, and riding in traffic. Geared for those who have never biked to work – or who are still figuring it out – though more experienced cyclists may learn some new tips, as well. Presenter Doug Shidell is the creator of the Twin Cities Bike Map and a 40-year bike commuter who has taught classes on biking to work since 2005.

Transit

Southwest LRT and SouthWest Transit Updates

May 2021

Get the latest on transit construction along the Southwest LRT and learn about new and future SouthWest Transit routes in the webinar, Southwest LRT and SouthWest Transit Updates.

SWLRT Community Outreach Coordinator James Mockoviack provides update on the progress of the 14 ½-mild light rail project, including road and trail closures. SouthWest Transit Chief Operations Officer Matt Fyten shares information about new routes and exciting new services that have come on board over the past year.

View slides from Southwest LRT and SouthWest Transit Updates

METRO Orange Line Connecting Bus Study Details

February 2021

Watch the METRO Orange Line Connecting Bus Study Details highlighting proposed changes and improvements associated with this exciting new commute option scheduled to begin service late 2021.

The Orange Line will service the I-35W corridor from Burnsville, through Bloomington and Richfield, and on into south Minneapolis. When complete, it will replace the existing bus routes 535 and 597.

Metro Transit Senior Planner John Dillery and Outreach Coordinator Juan Rangel highlight the project’s Concept Plan, which includes proposed changes to existing routes and identifies improved connections and transit service. The Concept Plan proposes changes to bus routes in Richfield, Bloomington and Edina, including routes 515, 535, 537, 538, 539, 540, 542, 553 and 597.

View slides from METRO Orange Line Connecting Bus Study Details