Energy Conservation Month: Base Commuter Program offers traveling alternatives

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. C. Michaela Walrond
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Energy Conservation Month is in full swing, and the need for an environmentally conscious and energy efficient community is a topic of great discussion.

Thanks in part to Hanscom's Transportation Incentive program, opportunities to be good stewards of the environment can be found in areas as simple as a morning or evening commute.

The base Commuter Program -- aimed at improving air quality, reducing traffic congestion and improving quality of life for federal employees -- offers several options for cutting commuting costs and conserving energy, to include the Transportation Incentive Program, which provides commuter checks for certain modes of travel.

"Using public transportation not only helps the environment, but individuals may be rewarded for using this alternative. TIP provides up to $110 a month in tax free commuter checks for using some public transportation systems," said Laurie Weinacht, base commuter manager.

The program is open to all military and civilian employees, including non-appropriated fund civilians. Summer hires may qualify as well. Members of the Guard and Reserve components serving on active duty are also eligible for the incentive program. Participants in the transportation incentive program will receive the checks on a quarterly basis.

Public transportation costs such as bus, train, subway and light rail as well as vanpools operated by either public transport authorities or by a person in the business of transporting persons for compensation or hire are eligible for the program. The program does not cover parking costs associated with commuting.

A vanpool for the purpose of this program is defined as a highway vehicle with a capacity of at least six adults excluding the driver.

For those interested in vanpooling, Hanscom offers employees assistance through the MassRIDES program. MassRIDES assists commuters with establishing a vanpool by locating and bringing together seven to 15 people to share the ride and commuting costs to work, Ms. Weinacht said.

Riding by vanpool can help individuals cut commuting costs significantly, Ms. Weinacht said, because vanpoolers share gas costs, as well as any toll and parking fees.

"Other benefits for commuters, in addition to the $110 subsidy, include being eligible for a 10 percent discount on personal automobile insurance," she said.

The Commuter Management Office can also provide assistance to anyone interested in starting or joining a carpool through their Ride Matching Program also sponsored by MassRIDES. For purposes of the program, a carpool is defined as two or more (up to seven including the driver) occupants that share a vehicle to and from their respective workplaces on Hanscom for at least three days of the work week.

Anyone interested in starting or joining a vanpool or carpool can call the Commuter Management office at (781) 377-2904 where they will be asked to fill out an application. The office will then enter the application into their database and search for someone with the same or similar commuting schedule. There is no fee or obligation for this service. 

If a match is found, we will provide both individuals with each others contact information, and then from there they can make further arrangements with one another to commute together," Ms. Weinacht said.

Another program available to base personnel is the Emergency Ride Home program. Individuals who commute by mass transit, carpool, vanpool, bicycle or walking may qualify for the program, said Ms. Weinacht.

This program provides reimbursement for emergency transportation costs due to an unexpected emergency or illness or unscheduled overtime for either the employee or the driver of the carpool or vanpool. This benefit can be used up to four times per calendar year per employee.

For more information about the programs or to register, call (781) 377-2904.

(Rhonda Siciliano, 66th Air Base Wing, contributed to this article.)