Employee Incentive Program

Santa Monica College
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Sustainable Transportation Incentive Programs

Employees, get up to $30 per month by commuting sustainably

Commuting in LA costs drivers about $7,000 annually ($30 a day). In addition to the cost, driving alone wastes time in traffic and causes stress. To help, SMC offers all employees cash incentives each month if you bus, train, carpool/vanpool, bike, scooter or walk. In addition, here are some helpful resources:

Employees can get a free Big Blue Bus pass on their smartphone or a plastic TAP card (a value of $1,000 per year).

For a plastic TAP card: email transportation@smc.edu to request a card be picked up at the Cashier's Office or mailed to your department or home address.
For the mobile pass, click on this link and enter your @smc.edu email address.
- You will receive a text message with a link to download the Token Transit app.
- Once downloaded, open the app, and follow the prompts to create an account using your @smc.edu email address.
- Once you have created a Token Transit account, you will find your SMC mobile pass in your pass wallet. This offer is a benefit of being an SMC employee and is non-transferrable.

Secure bike lockers and showers available to employees in Student Services Center. Email sustainability@smc.edu for details.
Free evening rides to PAC, CMD, and Bundy – use Lyft Shared code (all other times, use the Big Blue Bus).
SMC is part of the Guaranteed Ride Home program. Employees get 2 emergency rides covered per year, in case an emergency requires you to leave early.

STIP FAQ header

Questions & Answers - Transportation

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Who do I contact if I have questions?

How much can I earn by commuting sustainably to SMC?

It depends on how often you commute sustainably vs drive alone or telecommute each month.

$15 per month if you commute sustainably 30%-49% of the time.
$25 per month if you commute sustainably 50%-74% of the time.
$30 per month if you commute sustainably 75%-100% of the time.

Quarterly Prize Drawing: Employees who qualify for a Sustainable Transportation Incentive for three consecutive months within the fiscal year quarter will be entered in a Quarterly Prize Drawing for that quarter. The prize drawing will be a total of $200.00 in gift certificates, distributed among four prize winners ($50 each). Winners will be selected at random. Gift certificates will be facilitated and distributed by the Sustainability Center.

Which types of sustainable transportation qualify?

Do I have to enter the Santa Monica College information in the profile?

Is supervisor signature required?

How do I submit my form?

SMC employees must log their commutes for the previous month by the 10th of the each month. Log ALL DAYS including Sick, Vacation and Telework (Work remotely) so that we are able to accurately mark your percentage of alternative transportation use. If you are an Adjunct Faculty member, please notify sustainability@smc.edu. If you are not scheduled to work, please select "not scheduled to work".

For those with a regular schedule, it’s easiest to do on the last day of the month. Make sure to set a calendar reminder to get it done before the 10th day of the next month or you will lose your incentive.

How do I see my monthly commute?

What is SMC doing with this information?

Why is SMC tracking employee commutes?

SMC is required by law to provide the City of Santa Monica and the South Coast Air Quality Management District with the College’s Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR). SMC’s target AVR is 1.75 persons per vehicle. In effort to achieve our target AVR and improve environmental performance, the College provides the alternative transportation incentive for employees regularly taking alternative transportation such as bus, bike, walking, or carpool.

Are EVs and motorcycles considered alternative transportation?

No, at this time EVs, scooters, and motorcycles are not considered alternative transportation and do not qualify for the incentive program. However, we will be reviewing the incentive structure and may include these modes in the future depending on the regional Air Quality Management District standards.

As a new employee, when do I become eligible to receive this benefit?

*If this is your first time participating in this program, please make sure you're eligible by answering the following questions to yourself:
1. Am I a probationary employee, permanent employee or a temporary employee? If temporary employee, you are not eligible.
2. Was my employment start date prior to the first date claimed on Corsair Commute? If yes, you are eligible.
3. Am I commuting 50% or more of the route to my SMC work-location by sustainable means (bike/walk/carpool/transit)? If yes, you are eligible.

Can I receive training on the new online system?

Where can I find out more info about the Alternative Transportation Incentive Program?

*Temporary employees can not receive this benefit but those who are still on probation can. To ensure eligibility for all, please inform us of your start date prior to submitting your first trip.

For more information, see Alternative Transportation FAQ

Be, Ride, Get, Green

If you bike, walk, carpool, or bus to SMC on a regular basis then you could be eligible for a monthly incentive ranging from $15-$30. The SMC Sustainable Transportation incentive program is part of SMC's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and achieving a state-mandated target Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR). Basically, the more people taking alternative transportation the better!

Register with the new online system today to start logging your commutes and receiving your monthly incentive. Paper copies of the sustainable transportation subsidy claim form only accepted for employees without access to a computer. commute.smc.edu.