Outside the National Capital Region
 

TIP Background
The Department of the Navy (DON), in compliance with Executive Order 13150 of 21 April 2000 and the Department of Defense (DOD) policy letter of 13 October 2000, implemented the Transportation Incentive Program (TIP) Outside the National Capital Region (ONCR) effective July 2001. The program is intended to reduce Federal employees’ contribution to traffic congestion and air pollution, and to expand their commuting alternatives. The Department of Transportation (DoT), on behalf of DOD, purchases and distributes transit vouchers and/or fare media to DON participants. For those areas not serviced by DoT, the DON Program Manager will approve the use of the SF-1164 (Claim for Expenditures on Official Business) as an alternative method for reimbursement.

Participants are eligible for reimbursement up to $125 per month in qualified mass transportation costs, not to exceed actual costs.

Eligibility Requirements
Who is eligible?
- All Navy and Marine Corps military members and federal DON civilian employees, including Non-appropriated Fund (NAF)
  employees
- Part-time federal employees and interns
- Reservists on active duty for more than 30 days are entitled to the same benefits, and are to apply for this benefit in the
  same manner as is applicable to members/employees in the same geographic area.
- Reservists who are performing active duty for 30 days or less are eligible under the SF 1164 reimbursement method.

Who is NOT eligible?
- Reservists who are on weekend drilling/training are considered to be on inactive duty and are therefore not eligible to receive
  this benefit.
- Contractors, US Coast Guard employees, retirees, and/or military dependents are not eligible for this benefit. ROTC students
  are not eligible for this benefit unless enlisted in a military branch and considered “Active Duty.”
- Overseas members/employees outside the ONCR coverage areas are not eligible.

The following recognized mass transportation systems qualify for the benefit:
-  Commuter Bus
-  Commuter Train
-  Subway/Light Rail
-  Vanpool
-  Ferry (foot passengers only)

Carpools, POV’s, motorcycles, bicyclists, airplanes, and/or walker do not qualify for the benefit.

**Vanpool is currently the only mass transit available at Pax River
 

Reimbursement Process/Distribution of Fare Media
Transit vouchers and/or fare media is distributed on a monthly or quarterly basis. Once your application has gone through the necessary processing stages and has been approved, DoT will send the fare media to your installation/command POC via overnight mail, who will make the necessary arrangements to distribute to you. Either way, your POC will provide you with the necessary instructions to obtain your fare media.

Enter the calculated total onto your application form, even if the total exceeds the $125 maximum amount.
 

Important policies:
-  The transportation fringe benefit program is a “benefit” not an “entitlement”. Therefore, there is no retroactive reimbursement. -  Vouchers are issued beginning in the month following enrollment.
-  Prior to withdrawing from the program, you are required to return all unused fare media/vouchers to your POC.
-  If you used fare media/vouchers after your effective departure date, the government must be reimbursed by Money Order
   made payable to the US Treasury and forwarded to the Office of Financial Operations for processing.
-  You are required to submit an updated application when
         1) the amount you are claiming changes
         2) you transfer to another command
         3) any personal information changes
         4) your military status (Active/Reserve) changes
-  Making a false, fictitious or fraudulent certification on the application is subject to criminal prosecution, Civil Penalty Action,
   and agency disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
-  As a TIP participant at Pax River, you will be required to track your vanpool usage via a vanpool ride log each day, this will
   be provided once you are an approved TIP member
 

Information and Forms:

How to Enroll
- To become a participant in TIP at Pax River, contact your local Pax River TIP Coordinator at 301-342-6860 and you will be provided with an information sheet, instructions and the TIP application.

- TIP is a benefit handled through the Navy's Financial Management Office, below is a link to the Navy TIP website:
                             http://www.fmo.navy.mil/Divisions/FMO3/transportation_incentive_program.html

- TIP Welcome Aboard Information sheet

- TIP Application form (as of 2011) (please contact the Pax River TIP Coordinator for assistance in filling out this form)