Mass Transportation Benefit Program

The Madison County Transit’s RideFinders Vanpool Program presented Scott Air Force Base with a 2015 RideFinders Regional Sustainability Award on Sept. 29 for its efforts to improve regional air quality and reduce traffic congestion by actively encouraging base personnel to rideshare and use public transportation. Pictured left to right: Kiley Herndon, Ridefinders account representative; Lt. Col. Scott Bryant, commander, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron; Col. Greg Green, vice commander, 375th Air Mobility Command; SJ Morrison, RideFinders director of marketing and planning, and Renee Goodenough, RideFinders education coordinator. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Christine Spargur)

Mass Transportation Benefit Program

Published Oct. 15, 2015
By Christine Spargur
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS -- Scott Air Force Base military and civilian employees looking for ways to save money are eligible to take advantage of the Department of Defense's Mass Transportation Benefit Program, which helps to offset transportation costs to and from work.

The program is open to active duty servicemembers; National Guardsmen and Reservists on active duty orders, and DoD federal civilians. Qualifying modes of transportation include commuter bus, train, subway/light rail, ferries, and vanpools. For Scott AFB, this includes MetroLink and MetroBus, Madison County Transit RideFinders Program and Enterprise's RideShare Program. The Mass Transportation Benefit Program only covers transportation to and from work; other personal transportation needs are not eligible.

Eligible participants must submit a one-time application to the Finance Office who will send it to the Department of Transportation for review and processing. The Finance Office forwards the applications to the DOT on a quarterly basis and, as such, the speed in which the applicant receives benefits is dependent on the quarter his application was sent.

Upon receipt of the DOT's approval of the application, the Finance Office will issue the applicant a transportation subsidy voucher. Participants are responsible for transportation costs above the maximum allowable benefit.

For more information about the Mass Transportation Benefit Program and eligibility, contact the Finance Office at 256-1851. Application forms are available at http://www.scott.af.mil/library/newcomers/index.asp.

For more information about mass transportation service providers, go to:
St. Clair County Transit District: www.scctd.org
Madison County Transit RideFinders Program: www.ridefinders.org
MetroLink: www.metrostlouis.org
Enterprise Rideshare Program: http://www.enterpriserideshare.com/vanpool/en/Federal.html
Citizens for Modern Transit: www.cmt-stl.org

Note: DoD, the U.S. Air Force, and Scott Air Force Base do not imply endorsement or endorse the specific companies referenced above; the information is provided merely as an indication of commercial companies available within the local area.