---------------------------------------------------------------- The United States Navy on the World Wide Web A service of the Navy Office of Information, Washington DC send feedback/questions to comments@chinfo.navy.mil The United States Navy web site is found on the Internet at http://www.navy.mil ---------------------------------------------------------------- SECNAV192056Z APR 01 ALNAV 038/01 Subj: Department of Defense (DoD) Transportation Incentive Program for outside the National Capital Region Ref. a: Executive Order 13150 Ref. b: DEPSECDEF 13OCT00 Ref. c: Internal Revenue Service Ref a is an Executive Order entitled "Federal Workforce Transportation." Ref b is a memo on the DOD Transportation Incentive Program policy. Ref c is the regulatory requirements on the maximum allowed commuting costs benefit. Ref d provides general guidelines and definitions of most terms used in this message. On 21 Apr 2000, President Clinton signed Ref a, Executive Order (E.O.) 13150 entitled "Federal Workforce Transportation," which is aimed at reducing federal employees' contribution to traffic congestion and air pollution as well as expanding their commuting alternatives. Ref a requires federal agencies to implement the mass transit benefit program. It is the policy of the department of the Navy (DoN) to encourage employees to use mass transportation for commuting to and/or from work in an effort to improve air quality and to reduce traffic congestion while improving the quality of life for its employees. On 13 Oct 2000, the Deputy Secretary Of Defense signed ref b, a memorandum that issued a DOD transportation incentive program policy to conform to ref a. While the E.O. differentiates between employees working inside the National Capital Region (NCR) and those outside the NCR (ONCR) with respect to the kind of transportation incentives that must be offered, DOD policy is that all DOD Personnel will receive the same benefit. ONCR is defined as the 50 states (excluding the National Capital Region), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands." The benefit includes transportation vouchers or cash reimbursement in amounts that do not exceed their actual commuting costs (not including parking fees), up to the maximum allowed by ref c, currently $65.00/month. Mass transportation vouchers will be used where available. Where vouchers are not readily available, the DON will implement a cash reimbursement arrangement for expenses incurred by DON employees for transportation in mass transit or van pools, as defined in Ref d. The transportation incentive program applies equally to all military service members and civilian employees, including non- appropriated fund (NAF) employees. Members of the reserve components serving on active duty are also eligible for the program. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASN(M&RA)) has the lead for providing overall guidance to the field and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Financial Management and Comptroller (ASN(FM&C)) is supporting the implementation of the program from the financial perspective. ASN(FM&C) will utilize the input requested below to ensure appropriate service support is provided to all commands. To help implement the DON mass transportation incentive program request all Navy and Marine Corps installation commanders take the following actions: a. Designate a point of contact (military or civilian) who will be responsible for the administration of the transportation incentive program. b. Encourage all employees interested in participating in the transportation incentive program to complete the mass transportation fringe benefit application form and return it to the installation's designated POC. The application is available on the DON "Lifelines" web site at http:/www.lifelines2000.org. The additional van pool form need not be completed at this time. c. By 11 May 2001, provide the following information via e-mail to SECNAV POC, Ms. Donna Parry (parry.donna@fmo.navy.mil). - installation address: - installation POC's name: - telephone number/DSN: - fax number: - e-mail address: - is there a mass transit service that uses a voucher system in your local area? (if yes, note if it is the bus, rail, subway, van pool or other.) - estimated number of military interested in utilizing the mass transit program: - estimated number of appropriated fund civilians interested in utilizing the mass transit program: - estimated number of non-appropriated fund civilians interested in utilizing the mass transit program: Note: installation commanders will provide a consolidated response for all tenant commands reporting to them. Non- deployed ships will report their numbers to host installation commanders. The host installation will include independent duty personnel supported by the installation but will not include other service members/departments even if they are a tenant command. OSD has informed the eight national employee unions with national consultation rights of the transportation incentive program. Commands and activities with union recognition are reminded that bargaining obligations must be satisfied in implementing Refs a and b. Following receipt of field input, further policy and guidance on the program will be forth coming. Installation POCs will be provided additional guidance and will be notified when to proceed further with application processing. Commands or activities that are not captured under an installation umbrella will report information as directed in paragraph 5.c. Refs a through d are available on the DON Lifelines website, noted in para 5.b. All military and civilian funding questions should be directed to Ms. Donna Parry, parry.donna@fmo.navy.mil, (202)433- 8222/dsn 288-8222. For policy questions, please contact Cdr. Margie Hodas-Walsh, ASN(M&RA), hodas-walsh.margie@hq.navy.mil, (703)693-0483/DSN 223-0483.