CCFall2016NewsLtrMch9 Layout 1 · government agencies t o embrace transit benefits when it began...
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FEDERAL ETC UPDATES Employee Transportation Coordinator Fall 2016 The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) was one of the first government agencies to embrace transit benefits when it began distributing fare subsidies to employees in the 1990’s. In fact, DOT’s leadership with TRANServe won an Organization Achievement Award from Commuter Connections in 2003. Today, DOT has introduced an effective and cost-efficient way for government employees to receive their monthly transit benefit through the use of federal debit cards. The TRANServe Debit Card is a Visa branded electronic fare media card which makes it easier for federal employees to choose commuting options that improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion. Under the program, government employees use a personalized Visa© debit card to purchase fare media from a ticket agent, online, or at a station kiosk. This saves the federal government approximately $270,000 annually in eliminated shipping, travel, and on-site distribution costs. Unused benefits will be returned to the government automatically, which could lead to additional savings. This process also allows greater oversight through monthly reports detailing where benefits are purchased and used. Lost cards can be quickly canceled and easily replaced, further safeguarding government funds. To read more about the TRANServe Card visit http://transerve.dot.gov/debit-card.html. FEDERAL EMPLOYEES OFFERED DEBIT CARDS FOR TRANSIT FARE PURCHASES
Transcript of CCFall2016NewsLtrMch9 Layout 1 · government agencies t o embrace transit benefits when it began...
FEDERAL ETC UPDATESEmployee Transportation Coordinator
Fall 2016
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) was one of the firstgovernment agencie s to embrace transit benefits when it begandistributing fare subsidies to employees in the 1990’s. In fact, DOT’sleadership with TRANServe won an Organization Achievement Awardfrom Commuter Connections in 2003. Today, DOT has introduced aneffective and cost-efficient way for government employees to receivetheir monthly transit benefit through the use of federal debit cards. The TRANServe Debit Card is a Visa branded electronic fare media card which makes it easier for federal employees tochoose commuting options that improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion.
Under the program, government employees use a personalizedVisa© debit card to purchase fare media from a ticket agent, online,or at a station kiosk. This saves the federal government approximately$270,000 annually in eliminated shipping, travel, and on-sitedistribution costs. Unused benefits will be returned to thegovernment automatically, which could lead to additional savings.
This process also allows greater oversight through monthly reportsdetailing where benefits are purchased and used. Lost cards can be quickly canceled and easily replaced, further safeguardinggovernment funds.
To read more about the TRANServe Card visithttp://transerve.dot.gov/debit-card.html.
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FEDERAL EMPLOYEES OFFERED DEBIT CARDS FOR TRANSITFARE PURCHASES
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With the opening of new commuter resourceinformation stations, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall(JBM-HH) commuters have a new resource to helpnavigate through the various transportation optionsavailable. The transportation information booths willappear at all three portions of the joint base, includingFort McNair, to provide employees with an array ofcommuter choices. The hope is to decrease the numberof single occupancy vehicles entering JBM-HH.
“The commuter information center will serve primarilyfor informational purposes to ensure people are awareof all the possibilities out there to get to work,” saidLavonda Lessane, JBM-HH Strategic Planner for PlansAnalysis and Integration. “For example, visitors to the information stations can learn about Arlington’sVanpool Connect program which offers a $50/monthcredit for the first six months.”
Over an eight-month period, Arlington TransportationPartners and Mobility Lab conducted a survey ofJBM-HH commuters to identify patterns and needs. Thesurvey revealed that 30 percent of military personneland 41 percent of civilian employees who work on thejoint base are either dissatisfied or very dissatisfiedwith their commutes.
Additionally, regular meetings are held with theNorthern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), to helpaddress JBM-HH’s transportation-related challenges.“The findings of the survey were very revealing,” saidPeggy Tadej, NVRC’s Director of Military Affairs.“Eighty-eight percent of respondents surveyed saidthey drive on post alone. That number is high for apopulace that works inside the beltway and are closerto Metro access than people who work at Fort Belvoir orQuantico, especially considering all federal governmentemployees receive up to $255 per month to cover thecosts to commute using public transportation.”
The survey also revealed that only three percent of respondents had ever used mass publictransportation, carpooled, vanpooled or biked to work, suggesting a lack of awareness of such options. The Commission aims to change that.
NEW COMMUTER INFORMATION STATIONS FOR JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL
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