Riders can relax, go green with Army’s Mass Transportation Benefit Program
By Cynthia Odoms-Cheatham
Every day thousands of daily commuters leave their gas guzzlers in the garage and join others across the National Capital Region who use public transportation.
Overall, 698,000 people use the rail system and another 470,000 ride a public transit system bus as their primary mode of transportation.
More than 13,000 Army employees take advantage of the Army Mass Transportation Benefit Program, which subsidizes employee commuting expenses. In addition to saving money, the program reduces federal employees’ contribution to traffic congestion and air pollution, and expands community mass transportation alternatives.
A little history
The Transportation Fringe Benefit Program was established in April 2000 by a Presidential mandate to give military and civilian employees relief from commuting costs to and from their primary worksite within the NCR.
The program entitles authorized and participating employees to a monthly benefit to help offset their daily commuting expenses. It is managed by the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.
Expanded travel options and increased subsidy
The program has improved since its inception nine years ago by expanding the mode of travel options to include commuter bus, commuter train, subway or light rail, and, under special conditions, van pools and ferries. Recently, as part of the economic stimulus package, the MTBP maximum allowable benefit to participants increased to $230 per month.
New fare media payments
Along with increased ridership options and benefits, riders have three types of fare media payment options, based on mode of transportation:
• The Commuter Check Card Prepaid MasterCard is mainly used if you ride the metro rail and bus. It is plastic that looks like a credit card and is designed to be easier and more convenient. It can be loaded directly on to your SmartTrip Card.
• The SmartBenefit vouchers are available in $1, $10, and $30 denominations. They are transferable among the MARC Train, Amtrak, and the Virginia Railway Express
• The TransBen Voucher is a 3- by 7-inch, blue bank check solely used to pay for vanpool services.
New online Web-based application
Launched June 23, MTBP’s new Web-based, Common Access Card-enabled application captures all required applicant data, automatically cross-checks Pentagon reservation parking records, captures employee certifications, incorporates required ethics training, and implements approvals with supervisors and program officials.
The new online application process takes approximately 15 days - half the time of the original manual paper process of 30 or more days. Participants without a CAC need to continue using paper applications.
For more information about the Army MTBP and how to apply for benefits, visit the DoD Web site at whs.mil/DFD/Info/ NCRTransitSubsidy .cfm or go to the OAA Web site (oaa.army.mil/mtbp) and click on Special Programs.
(Odoms-Cheatham is with the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.)
