Commuter Benefits Program

Designed to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program lets you earn big savings when you choose not to drive to work alone.

If you work at a Bay Area business with 50 or more full-time employees, your employer is required to offer you one of the following five benefits:

• Pre-tax benefit: Allows you to exclude your transit or vanpooling expenses from taxable income
• Employer subsidy: Provides a subsidy to reduce or cover your monthly transit or vanpool costs
• Employer-provided transit: Provides a free or low-cost transit service for employees, such as a bus, shuttle or vanpool service
• Alternative benefit: Provides an alternative commuter benefit that is as effective in reducing single-occupancy commute trips as one of the three options above
• Telework: A company-wide telework policy allowing telework one or more days a week for all employees whose assignments can be performed remotely

You can save as much as 40% on monthly transit or vanpool costs when you choose the pre-tax benefit option. Ask your employer about how to participate.

For Employers: Requirements & Resources

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (Air District) Regulation 14, Rule 1 requires Bay Area employers with 50 or more full-time employees within the Air District’s geographic boundaries to offer commuter benefits to employees. The program is mandatory, per Senate Bill 1128, located in California Government Code section 65081.