Mass Transportation Benefits Program (MTBP)

Information Sheet

What is the Mass Transportation Benefits Program (MTBP)?

a.  The Mass Transportation Benefit Program provides partial reimbursement for mass transit commuting costs “in order to reduce Federal employees’ contribution to traffic congestion and air pollution and to expand their commuting alternatives” (Executive Order 13150, April 2000).

b. MTBP is available for all Army employees – military, civilian, and NAF.

c. The benefit is a non-taxable personnel benefit, funded from the same appropriation or non-appropriated fund that funds the participant’s salary.

d. The benefit is not to be used for any other purpose, and may not be given, sold, or otherwise transferred to any other individual.

e. Geographically, the MTBP applies only to the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

f. MTBP execution and individual participation is closely monitored by Army, DoD, and Federal oversight agencies (GAO, OMB) for compliance with program requirements.

2.    How does the Program Work?

a. Eligible MTBP participants receive a subsidy for their commuting expenses while using Qualified Means of Transportation.

b.  The subsidy is issued which is used to “pay” the local transit provider.

c.  As of 1 January 2012 the maximum allowable benefit is $125 per month.

If your commuting costs exceed $125 per month, you are responsible for the amount above $125.

The MTPB is centrally funded by HQDA; there is no cost to the local installation.

3.  Who is eligible to participate? 

a. All Army Active Component (AC) military service members.

b. Army Reserve Component (RC) military service members (Army Reserve and Army National Guard) who are currently on active duty.

c.   DoD/DA Federal civilian employees, including part-time federal employees and interns.

d.  DA Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) personnel employed by a duly constituted Army Non-Appropriated Funded Instrumentality (NAFI) under the control of the Secretary of the Army and organized under the provision of AR 215-1 (Military Morale, Welfare, And Recreation Programs And Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentalities), (e.g., NAFI activities managed by the U.S. Army Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation Command).

4.  Who is NOT eligible?

a.  Army RC service members who are drilling or training in an Inactive Duty or Training (IADT) status.

b. Contractors.

c. Service members and civilian employees on TDY, or who have been deployed.

d. NAF personnel whose salary is not funded by a duly constituted Army NAFI under the provisions of AR 215-1

e. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students unless they are enlisted in a military branch and serving on active duty

f. Army military retirees and Army civilian employee retirees

g. Dependents.

5.  What are qualified means of transportation? 

a.  Commuter Bus, Commuter Train, Subway / Light Rail

b.  Van Pools (Van pools must adhere to the guidelines stated in Title 26, United States Code, Section 132(f) (attached).

c.  Ferry.

6.  What are NOT qualified means of transportation? 

a. Personally Owned Vehicles (POV), carpools, motorcycles, airplanes, bicyclists, and/or walkers, solely utilizing any of these methods of transportation

b. Ferries used as a means of shuttling POVs from one point to another where the completion of the journey to the duty station is completed in the POV.

7.  How do I apply? 

a. Submit a completed and signed “Mass Transportation Benefit Program Application” to your installation’s MTBP Program POC for processing

b. Contact  Rosemary Richter at 760-380-4614 or rosemary.richter@us.army.mil or Kristi Oakley at 760-380-3337 or Kristi.oakley@us.army.mil

c. The application form and instructions for completion  may be found at the Army’s MTBP website:  http://asafm.army.mil/offices/ASA/MassTrans.aspx?OfficeCode=1000

d. The approval process takes approximately 30 workdays, from application submission to receipt of fare media.  The monthly cut-off for application submission is the 25th of the month (unless it is a weekend and then it is the workday  prior) to be eligible for participation.

8.  Commuter Options:

a. VPSI Vanpools:  Contact Tracy McConnell or Leigh-Anne Kitch at 1-800- VANRIDE or visit www.vpsiinc.com.

b.  Enterprise Vanpools:  Contact Rachel Prentiss at 1-800-826-4967 or  (714) 507-4419 or visit www.vanpool.com.

Note:  DoD, the US Army, and NTC and Fort Irwin do not imply endorsement or endorse the specific companies referenced; the information is being provided merely as an indication of commercial companies available within the local area, other companies may also be available.

c.  Other Vanpools:  The vehicle may be owned and operated by either public transit or commercial authorities, or by a private vendor in the business of transporting persons for compensation or hire.  The vehicle must have a seating capacity of at least six (6) adults, not including the driver. There are no guidelines that specify the maximum capacity of the vehicle. The minimum number of adult seats occupied for commuting purposes must be at least half (3) of the adult seating capacity (6) of such vehicle in addition to the driver, or 4 total (3 adult passengers + 1 driver).  At least 80 percent of the expected mileage use of the vehicle must be for the purpose of transporting personnel in their local commute from residence to their place of employment/duty station.

9.Other Incentives:   Option Rideshare offers two incentives for vanpools.  You may only receive one of the two incentives:

a.  The County of San Bernardino offers an incentive for vanpools that provides a total of $1800 spread over nine months for new vanpools ($300 for 1st 3 months, $200 for 2nd 3 months, and $100 for 3rd 3 months).  This money will be taken directly off of your VPSI or Enterprise lease amount and should be mentioned to the vanpool POC at the time of lease.

b.  After riding in a rideshare (carpool, bus, vanpool, etc.), for 3 months, you are eligible to receive $2.00 per day for a total of $180.00 in the form of grocery vouchers.  Forms must be turned in to the DOL Transportation Officer, Ms. Stephanie Jeffery in Building 565.  When vouchers arrive, you will be contacted by that office for pick-up.

For more information on Inland Empire Incentives, visit the website: http://www.ie511.org/commuter-incentives.aspx