Sun Tran has teamed up with over 60 Tucson-area businesses to make commuting to work convenient and affordable for employees through the Get on Board program. Organizations can increase employee productivity and morale, be recognized as good corporate citizens and benefit the environment. There are many reasons businesses should consider participating in the program.
Employer Benefits
Get on Board is an easy-to-use program that allows forward-thinking employers to help their employees travel to and from work with ease. Plus, it lowers commuting costs, reduces traffic congestion, and improves Tucson's air quality.
Attract and retain good employees
Transit benefits enhance your company's overall benefits package to help you attract and retain good employees. Given the cost of hiring and re-training employees, this low-cost benefit could easily pay for itself. And, bus passes are a benefit employees can use every day.
Reduce parking needs
Encouraging public transit increases parking spaces for customers at your business.
Increase employee productivity
Riding the bus to work means employees arrive relaxed and ready for the day. They also feel good knowing they're not stranded without a ride if something unexpected occurs through the Guaranteed RideHome Program.
Enhance your organization's image
Companies that help reduce traffic congestion are seen as highly desired organizations and good community neighbors.
Earn a tax deduction
Recent changes to the tax code permit employers who pay for any part of an employee's bus pass to structure their payment to reduce payroll taxes. And, there are no IRS reporting requirements. Learn more about Tax Benefits.
Satisfy Travel Reduction Program (TRP) requirements
Companies with over 100 employees can earn credits towards meeting their TRP goals through the Get on Board program. For more information on TRP, visit the Travel Reduction Program.
Getting Started
If you are considering offering some type of commuter program, here are some questions to get you started.
- What does your company hope to accomplish?
- How many employees will want to participate?
- How much are you willing to spend?
- How much administrative time will the program take?
To help answer these questions, you can calculate the financial and other benefits of a commute program by using this EPA calculator.
You're now ready to move forward. Sun Tran offers a range of tools to help you design a program that is suited to your businesses' needs. Here are some steps to get you started.
Choose a transportation coordinator (TC)
This employee is a liaison between the company, co-workers and Sun Tran.
Survey your employees
Learn how employees are currently getting to work and if they'd be interested in riding Sun Tran. The Get on Board Survey can get you started.
Decide how to participate
There are four ways companies can participate:
- Sell passes on site. Give your employees the convenience of obtaining bus passes at work. Each month the passes are sent directly to your company by certified mail. Your company sells the passes and at the end of the month, submits payment for the full value of the passes sold that month and returns any unsold passes. Sun Tran will credit you 25 cents for every pass sold.
- Subsidize some or all of the cost of a bus pass. Offering a subsidy motivates employees to give transit a try. Your company decides how much of the cost of a bus pass to subsidize and the individual employee would pay the remaining balance.
- Reimburse employees for their passes. Companies can also choose to reimburse employees for some or all of the cost of a bus pass. Companies that reimburse, however, are not eligible for tax savings.
- Third-Party benefit providers. Private firms known as third-party benefit providers can work with employers to develop, implement and administer tax benefits. While Sun Tran does not endorse or recommend any specific providers, Wageworks has worked with Tucson employers.
Determine the type of passes to purchase
Sun Tran offers a popular monthly pass and an assortment of other pass types. For prices and more detailed information go to Fares & Passes.
Sign up and begin ordering passes
When your company decides to sell passes on site, a Get on Board Pass Provider Agreement will be mailed for your signature. This Agreement states the terms and conditions of receiving passes. You'll also receive information on how to order passes, when payment is due, and what to do with unused passes.
Spread the word
Sun Tran offers a variety of materials to help you inform your employees about the program.
- Get on Board Toolkit
The online Toolkit provides timely messages about Get on Board with a ready-to-use paycheck stuffer, newsletter announcement, and flyer. - Employers Choice Brochure
For prospective Get on Board employers, this brochure outlines the benefits of the program and how to join. - Employee Overview Brochure
For new employees in companies that already participate in the Get on Board program, this brochure describes the benefits they'll receive. - Transportation Fair
A Transportation Fair is an excellent way to inform your employees about their commuting options. Sun Tran can arrange for a transit representative to attend your fair and help employees plan their commute on Sun Tran. A Transportation Fair Request will get you started to schedule this event. - In addition to these materials Sun Tran has posters, system maps, and Passes Sold Here signs. Printed Materials Order Form
For more information on the Get on Board program, contact
, Product
Manager at (520) 206-8859.
Additional Resources
A number of organizations provide general information on the benefits of transit and associated tax savings.
Commuter Choice, a nationwide partnership designed to help employers create customized solutions to their employees' commuting challenges.
The Association for Commuter Transportation, an association for professionals who specialize in commute options and solutions as well as organizations, businesses and individuals interested in creating a more workable transportation system.
Best Workplaces for Commuters, a program advocating employer-provided commuter benefits that offers recognition for innovative solutions to commuting challenges faced by employers and employees.
Tax Free Transit, a public service dedicated to raising awareness about the tax-saving advantages of riding mass transit when you set up a transportation flexible spending account.