Army Support to other Services/Defense Agencies

Updated as of 2 February 2009

We have received a number of questions on whether military and civilian members of other Services--Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps-and Defense agencies could be funded by the Department of the Army for the Mass Transportation Fringe Benefit Program for Outside the National Capital Region (NCR). Most of these cases involve arrangements where the Army functions as an Executive Agent and other Services/agencies fall under the Army umbrella; or where an Army major command/ installation is the host command for tenants that include other Services/agencies. The Office, Secretary of Defense (OSD) implementing guidance dated October 13, 2000, specifically requires that the mass transportation benefit be aligned with pay and compensation. Therefore, the cost of this benefit must be paid from the same appropriation/fund that pays the salary of the military member or civilian. The Army can only pay transportation benefits for Army military members and its civilians. The other Services/Defense agencies must pay for the transportation benefits received by their military members and civilians. We are currently researching whether support could be provided on a reimbursable basis. Headquarters Points of Contact for the other Services are as follows:

Air Force: The Pentagon, Washington, D.C., 703-614-9370/DSN 224-9370
Navy: Office of the Secretary of the Navy, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C., 703-693-0483
Marine Corps: Headquarters, United States Marine Corps, 703-784-9387/9388/DSN 294-9387/9388

HQDA Policy and Procedures for Mass Transit Participants

http://asafm.army.mil/offices/ASA/MassTrans.aspx?OfficeCode=1000
http://www.utarideshare.com/programs/vanpool.htm

Please remember that an application is also required to quit the van, or to make any other changes. This allows the Army to withdraw the funds for that individual and it must be reported via an application. The Army provides a benefit to individuals who are actually funded by the Army. Those RIDERS MUST BE EMPLOYED AND PAID BY THE ARMY, INCLUDING AGR’S, ADSW’S, AND ARMY TECHNICIAN’S (including Army Funded civilians.) Others are welcome to ride the vans, but their cost will be out of pocket and not provided by the Army.

Bus and Light Rail (TRAX), and FrontRunner tickets are also available. The bus only stops in Draper at the intersection of 12300 South and Minuteman Drive. You are allowed to take a bike on Buses and Light Rail. Applications are also required for Bus/Light Rail & FrontRunner passes.

COMPUTATION WORKSHEET FOR MASS TRANSIT BENEFITS must be filled out and turned in with each application for Van Pools.

Please see Sample:

COMPUTATION WORKSHEET FOR MASS TRANSIT BENEFITS SAMPLE

Application information: Call 801.432.4239 for help to fill out the application.

Name of Van or where it originates.
Check: New Enrollment/Making A Change (see dropdown)/Re-Enrolling (if participant has been in program previously/Withdrawing (20th of current month, if prior to 20th)
Last Name
First Name
Middle Initial
Last 4 Digits of SSN
City of Residence		No addresses or personal phone numbers, unless they can only be reached on their cell phone
State	UT
Zip Code
Installation/Activity		Example., UT-AASF
Duty Location (City)
Commercial Office - Telephone
Civilian
Military
Active Duty
Army National Guard Employee
Email Address
Supervisor Name, Location, Office, Telephone (Include Area Code)

Starting a Vanpool

If you are interested in starting up a vanpool, you must have 7 people to ride the van, including the driver. You need to get certified through UTA Rideshare (Utah Transit Authority). They provide the vans, but the Army pays for them, including insurance, maintenance, etc.

The contact for the UTA is Wendy Karsch 801.287.2060.

If you have enough individuals to start a van, they need to provide me with the following information which can be Emailed to me. I will fill out their applications and they need to have original signatures on them. A new application must be filled out by each individual if they make a change of any kind, e.g. changing vans, changing amount received from the Army, or withdrawing from the program.

http://www.utarideshare.com/programs/programs.htm

Programs>Guaranteed Ride Home

The Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) Guaranteed Ride Home Program is available to businesses participating in the Eco Pass Program and the UTA Van Lease Program. It provides a free ride for a Sponsor's employee from their business location to the employee's home or other location within the public transit district, with any qualifying emergency.

If an employee or a member of their immediate family becomes ill or injured, requiring the employee to leave work, UTA will provide a Guaranteed Ride Home at no cost to the employee. Each participating employee is allowed a maximum of six Guaranteed Ride Home trips per calendar year, or a pro-rated maximum of less than six times if the program is contracted for less than a full year. Working unscheduled overtime also qualifies an employee for a Guaranteed Ride Home. If a regular scheduled UTA bus or train is available within 30 minutes of the conclusion of an unscheduled overtime shift, the employee is expected to take the bus or train. If not, a Guaranteed Ride Home is provided.

Requesting a Guaranteed Ride Home is very easy. The qualifying employee or employee's sponsor calls UTA Customer Service at 287-4663 (BUS-HOME). The Customer Service Representative will send a UTA Supervisor in a marked UTA vehicle, or give the participating employee the telephone number for a taxicab. The taxi company will issue a one-ride authorization number to give the driver.

The Guaranteed Ride Home Program is a safety net providing a ride home because of an emergency, illness or family crisis, or working late unexpectedly. It is a successful program that encourages employees to use alternative transportation.

Use Of Profanity In The Van-Pools

Often we are placed in situations where we have little control over what others say. Many people find profanity offensive and degrading; you are showing insensitivity when you use it. People may endure profanity, but they are seldom impressed, and they usually have less respect for the profaner.

UTA Publications

Vanpooling; The Intelligent Choice

Ordinance Manual : CHAPTER 5

REGULATIONS GOVERNING CONDUCT ON DISTRICT PROPERTY

(h) Engaging in lewd or obscene behavior.

ii. No person shall, with the intent of causing public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, within any Transit Vehicle or Transit Facility:

(a) Engage in fighting, or violent, tumultuous, or threatening behavior;

(b) Make excessive and unnecessary noise;

(d) Obstruct the free unimpeded movement of passengers or Transit Vehicles; or

(e) Interfere with the duties of any Operator, Fare Inspector, Transit Public Safety Officer, or Authorized UTA Representative.

Please be mindful of others riding the vans, in both your actions and speech. Remember, you are representative of the Utah National Guard.

Thank you,

Mass Transit Program Director

COM 801-432-4239

DSN 766-4239

FAX 801-432-4700