TRANServe Frequently Asked Questions

No. A carpool does not meet the definition of mass transportation and its riders are not eligible to receive the Transit Benefit. Consult your agency policy document for details. Commuter highway vehicle. A commuter highway vehicle is any highway vehicle that seats at least 6 adults (not including the driver). In addition, you must reasonably expect that at least 80% of the vehicle mileage will be for transporting employees between their homes and work place with employees occupying at least one-half the vehicle's seats (not including the driver's).

Whenever the amount of Transit Benefit you receive exceeds the amount you need you must adjust your benefit.

When you use certain electronic fare media, including the TRANServe Card and the WMATA SmarTrip ®   card, you are not required to return unused funds. Unused funds are automatically returned to your Agency at the end of each monthly funding cycle. If this does not occur in your region your Agency may require you to produce a check or money order to return the funds to their program.

Example #1: You do adjust your benefit amount if you have certified that your estimated commuting cost is $4.00 per day, or $80.00 per month. On two days during the month you decide to drive rather than use mass transportation, reducing your monthly commuting cost by $8.00.  If your Region still uses paper fare media you must reduce the amount you  accept when it is time for the next Transit Benefit Distribution  to $72.00, to account for the amount of media left from last time.

Example #2: You do not have to adjust your benefit amount if you have certified your estimated commuting cost is $16.00 per day, or $320.00 per month. You received a Transit Benefit of $300.00 for the month and on two days during the month you drove to work, reducing your mass transit expenses by $32.00.  At the next Transit Benefit distribution you do not need to reduce your Transit Benefit as your actual commuting cost still exceeded the amount of Transit Benefit you received.
 

Always update your Transit Benefit application to document a permanent change to your commuting costs. To make these changes follow the procedure set by your agency. If your Agency is already using the TRANServe Electronic Transit Benefit System click here.

When the air quality index is likely to contain unhealthy levels of ozone it may be declared a CODE RED day. When this happens a ride on your local bus may be free. Local governments subsidize this free ride program to encourage people to leave their cars at home and cut down on pollution. Look for a sign on the bus that says "Code Red Day, Ride Free" (or something similar) and has the fare box covered. Any time the amount of Transit Benefit you receive exceeds the amount you need, you must adjust. When you pick up the Transit Benefit the following month, you must adjust your amount by the number of days that were designated Code Red” Example: You have certified your estimated commuting cost is $5.00 per day, or $100.00 per month. There were three “Code Red” days and you were able to ride the bus free. The next time you receive a Transit Benefit, you must request $85.00, having reduced by the amount of Transit Benefit left over from last time.

Note 1: When your actual commuting expense still exceeds the statutory limit you are not required to reduce to account for days on which you did not pay to commute.

Note 2: Users of certain electronic fare media, including the TRAN Serve Debit Card and the WMATA SmarTrip ®  card are not required to return unused funds. Unused funds are automatically returned to you Agency at the end of each monthly funding cycle.

If you received more Transit Benefit than you will use before your separation date, you need to return unused paper fare media or provide a money order to the Program Office. Your agency program office, point of contact or human resources department will work with you to take correct action.

The TRANServe Card automatically returns unused funds to your Agency.

When using any smart card, ( i.e. ORCA, CHARM, SMARTBENEFITS) it is best, when you know you will be leaving your Agency soon, to simply reduce the amount you accept. You can always download again if you need a bit more toward the end of the month. In many commuting regions, once electronic fare media is loaded to a smart card, it cannot be returned to your Agency automatically.

Return unused paper fare media to your agency Transit Benefit program office. Your record will be credited.   The agency may require you to write a check or return the paper fare media for which you are no longer eligible.

Withdraw from the Transit Benefit Program using your Agency's established process. If you are unsure of this process consult your Agency’s policy or consult your Transit Benefit Program Point of Contact.

Participants already using the TRANServe Electronic Application System may go to https://transitapp.ost.dot.gov then click “Transit Benefit Application”, then Click “Withdraw” and click “Proceed”

Once paper fare media is distributed to you, you are responsible for its safekeeping. Lost or stolen fare media will not be replaced by your employer. Some transit authorities have methods to exchange damaged fare media. Your agency Point of Contact may also be able to advise you in the handling of damaged fare media. For more information from your transit authority, click here.

Eligible employees may receive  a transit benefit from their employers.  The amount of the benefit is limited to their actual commuting costs, up to the current statutory limit, which is currently $315.00 per month. Refer to agency for max amount.  When your costs exceed $300.00 per month you are required to cover the additional costs with personal funds.

Use your current Agency designated process for completing changes to your transit benefit record. If you are not sure what to do, review the Applicant Guide or contact your Agency's Transit Benefit Program Office.

If your Agency uses the TRANServe’s Electronic Application

1. Log in to TRANServe’s Electronic Application at https://transitapp.ost.dot.gov
2. Select “My Account” to update your name, email address or phone number.
3. Submit an updated Application

If your Agency does not use TRANServe’s Electronic Application yet, inform your Assigned Agency Point of Contact.  Ask them to contact their TRANServe Transit Benefit Manager to request correction. Once your POC confirms your transit benefit record is correct, you may request a card replacement by calling US Bank Customer Service at 1-888-994-6722 or 711 for the hearing impaired.

No. You may apply for a Transit Benefit that equals, but never exceeds the amount you spend when using mass transit for your home-to-work-to-home commute.

No The Transit Benefit Application Worksheet, sometimes referred to as the Commuting Cost Worksheet, is only required during initial application, annual recertification and whenever changes are made to your application.

Any time the amount of your Transit Benefit exceeds the amount you need, you must adjust. When your routine commute changes, you are expected to submit a change application to update your Transit Benefit Application Worksheet. When a change is temporary, simply reduce the amount you accept. by purchasing only what you expect to need for that month. (i.e. On leave for one week? Purchase tickets for 3 weeks). You may make additional purchases if your plans change within the monthly cycle. Since most transit benefit participants are already using electronic fare media the balance will automatically sweep back to your Agency at the end of the monthly cycle.  

Remember, when using the Transit Benefit to pay your home-to-work-to-home commuting costs, you must adjust the amount of your Transit Benefit to reflect any times when you do not commute.  You are not to authorized to claim a Transit Benefit on days on which you telework, take annual or sick leave, are off for a holiday, during an office closure, are on official travel or your area experiences a Code Red day.

To apply for the Transit Benefit you must use the process approved by the federal agency for whom you work. Contact your Human Resources Representative or the Point of Contact for your agency’s Transit Benefit program. The application and contact at your agency may be listed on this website in the Participants section. For instance, if you are a Department of Transportation employee, scroll down and click DOT and Transit Benefit Program Application System.

These transit authority websites will assist you to accurately estimate the cost of your commute.

You are eligible to receive dollar-for-dollar of your actual commuting expense up to the statutory limit. The amount currently permitted by the Internal Revenue Service is $300.00 per month.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requires all Transit Benefit Program participants to recertify annually to verify their information is correct and up-to-date.

The Transit Benefit is an employer provided benefit designed to encourage employees to leave their personal vehicles at home and choose to use vanpools, commuter rail, commuter bus or other forms of mass transit for their home-to-work-to-home commute.

You must present a photo identification that proves you are a current employee of the federal agency providing the Transit Benefit to you.

When you purchase a reloadable electronic fare media card, be sure to register it with the Transit Authority Provider, if this option is available. Registration prevents a permanent loss of irreplaceable Transit Benefit funds. The electronic fare media on a lost, stolen or damaged card can be transferred to the new card. Please note you may not use your Transit Benefit to purchase a reloadable electronic fare media card from the Transit Authority. You must pay for the new card with personal funds. You can learn more information about your transit authority, here.