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Transportation Subsidy   

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) have announced that, effective March 6, 2009, the production of Metrocheks will be discontinued and replaced by the electronic smart card program known as SmartBenefits®.  The federally provided transit subsidy program is not in jeopardy.  WMATA has taken this opportunity to streamline operations and invest more time and funding into strengthening the Metro system. 
Participants using modes of transportation with smart card technology should convert to SmartBenefits® immediately. Beginning March 6, 2009, these participants will begin to download transit benefits onto their SmarTrip® cards; therefore, is essential to register with DOC and DOT for SmartBenefits® by this date.
Participants using modes of transportation without smart card technology will receive SmartBenefits® vouchers in denominations of $1.00, $10.00, and $30.00.  SmartBenefits® vouchers cannot be loaded onto a SmarTrip® card and are not redeemable for cash.  Unused Metrocheks can be exchanged for SmartBenefits® vouchers at a Metrochek exchange site.  For information regarding locations, please go to the following website: 
http://www.wmata.com/bus2bus/smartbenefits/pages/mcexchangesites.html.
New transit benefit participants who ride modes of transportation with smart card technology will be issued Metrocheks for the first quarter only.  For example, a new transit benefit participant whose transit benefit application is approved on April 15, 2009 will receive Metrocheks for the partial month of April and full months of May and June.  These participants must enroll in the SmartBenefits® Program by July 1, 2009 to continue receiving benefits.The transportation subsidy is a financial incentive that encourages employees and officers to use public transportation, rather than single-occupancy vehicles, to commute to and from work. Employees are eligible to receive up to a $230 benefit per month for Metro-approved mass transportation.

• Transit Benefit Increase Form *PDF (revised; 03/09)

To apply for the Smart Benefits click on link below

• Smart Benefits Application Form *WORD
  or

To learn more about how to claim your Smart Benefits click on link below

• Smart Benefits Downloading Instructions *PDF

To participate in the Transit Benefit (SmartBenefits®Vouchers) Program, you must:

1. be an employee of the Department of Commerce or a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Corps
    
2. use mass transportation to commute to and from work, and
    
3. work in an operating unit that is participating in the SmartBenefits®Vouchers Program.

You may not receive SmartBenefits®Vouchers if you are a driver or passenger in a vehicle that uses a government subsidized parking space.

To apply for the SmartBenefits®Vouchers Program, you must:

1. complete a CD-544, DOC Application for Transit Benefit, and
    
2. return the form to your Transit Point of Contact (refer to Questions and Answers).

If you need additional information such as directions to the Department of Transportation, the next scheduled SmartBenefits®Vouchers distribution, etc., click on Questions and Answers.