TRANServe Telework Commuting Guidance
Federal Transit Subsidy Telework Commuting
Agency transit benefit managers and participants have questions on the use of transit benefits with Telework schedules. In most agencies, the majority of employees are working a hybrid schedule, but there is still a segment of each agency’s workforce that is required to commute from their home to their work location to perform onsite essential duties. This document provides information on how transit benefit participants located in regions across the country should manage their monthly transit benefit.
Transit Benefit recipients have a responsibility to manage their transit benefit. Under normal monthly commuting scenarios, participants adjust their transit benefit to best reflect their commuting situation. Sometimes it is most cost effective for employees to switch from a monthly to a weekly or daily pass. During this time when most employees are teleworking, transit benefit recipients should continue to take an active role in managing their transit benefit amount and purchase only what is needed.
Participants are reminded that transit benefits are to be used exclusively for commutes from home to work and work to home. Participants who have renewable monthly orders with local transit authorities may need to temporarily alter or suspend such orders. Participants should contact their local transit authority for more information.
Regional Offices
- No application updates by a current transit benefit participant are required at this time due to temporary changes in telework.
- New enrollments, record changes, or program withdrawals to transit benefit applications should be submitted and will continue to be processed within normal time frames.
- Funds will be loaded to TRANServe Cards as normal and are available to those who continue to rely on them for their work commute. Participants are reminded that these funds are to be used for mass transit expenditures only.
- If you are commuting intermittently, participants should purchase daily or 10-trip tickets where available, rather than an unlimited monthly pass.
- Participants should disable autopay/reoccurring billing.
- Vanpool participants should consult directly with their vanpool coordinator/ operator for guidance during this time. Transit benefits should only be used when actively riding in vanpools for needed home to work and work to home commuting. Participants should disable autopay/reoccurring billing and only pay for needed home to work and work to home commuting.
- To remain up to date with your local transit authorities in the area regarding any additional impacts to mass transit service during this time, transit benefit participants should visit their transit authority’s website or social media page for updates.
National Capital Region Applications:
- No application update by a current transit benefit participant is required at this time due to temporary changes in telework.
- New enrollments, record changes, or program withdrawals to transit benefit applications should be submitted and will continue to be processed within normal time frames.
National Capital Region – Mode of Transportation:
- WMATA:
- April funds have been loaded to SmarTrip cards as normal and are available to those who are required to commute in April. If you are not commuting to work, do not use those funds. Unused funds will be swept at the end of the month and returned to your agency.
- WMATA is running on a more limited route and schedule. Be sure to check their website before riding.
- VRE, MARC, and Maryland MTA Buses Refunds:
- Depending on how you purchased your ticket, please visit the appropriate site for your transit provider’s refund policy. Participants should seek to receive the maximum refund. The sites are:
- For Commuter Direct purchases visit https://www.commuterdirect.com/help/?system=1§ion=118 for specific refund policies.
- Depending on how you purchased your ticket, please visit the appropriate site for your transit provider’s refund policy. Participants should seek to receive the maximum refund. The sites are:
- For VRE direct purchases visit: Virginia Railway Express (VRE) for specific refund policies.
- For MTA and MARC direct purchase visit: Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) - Commuter Buses and MARC Rail for specific refund policies.
- Commuter Direct will be emailing its auto-pay / reoccurring billing customers this week regarding their needs for a May monthly pass. Please be on the lookout for this email from CommuterDirect.com. If you are a Commuter Direct auto-pay/ reoccurring billing customer and do not receive an email, please contact them directly through this link: https://www.commuterdirect.com/help/?system=1
- VRE, MARC, and Maryland MTA Buses are running on limited schedules and routes. Be sure to check their website before riding.
- Vanpools:
- Vanpool participants should consult directly with their vanpool coordinator/ operator for guidance during this time.
- Transit benefits should only be used when actively riding in vanpools for needed home to work and work to home commuting.
- Participants should disable autopay/reoccurring billing and only pay for needed home to work and work to home commuting.
To remain up-to-date on WMATA and other major transit authorities in the area regarding any additional impacts to mass transit service during this time, transit benefit participants should visit their web site. The most common commuting links follow:
- WMATA - Metro Rail and Bus
- Virginia Railway Express (VRE)
- Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) - Commuter Buses and MARC Rail
- Other DC area Transit Authorities
Transit Benefit Program Telework FAQs
Questions in reference to this document should be directed to TRANServe@dot.gov