scope:

PURPOSE

The Transportation Fringe Benefit Program (TFBP) was established to reduce petroleum consumption and traffic congestion, and to improve air quality through encouraging the use of public mass transportation. This program is available for employees utilizing public mass transportation to commute to work. There are two different benefits available: a mass transit subsidy or the option to exclude mass transit commuting costs from taxable wages and compensation. This directive sets forth the policy, responsibilities, delegations of authority, and requirements for implementation of the TFBP at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).

APPLICABILITY

The mass transit subsidy is only available to GSFC civil service employees whose duty location is in the National Capital Region (see Definitions), at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) or at the Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Facility. GSFC employees stationed at other locations who are covered by the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association (GESTA) collective bargaining agreement are also eligible for the subsidy. All other GSFC employees (i.e., those who are not eligible for the mass transit subsidy) may participate in the TFBP by having mass transit commuting costs excluded from taxable wages and compensation. Since actual currency cannot be distributed to an employee, TFBP participation is subject to the availability of appropriate fare media (e.g., transit pass, fare card, or token).