Transportation Benefits

Transportation Benefits

CHPW offers a monthly transportation subsidy which can be used in multiple ways to benefit our employees and encourage the use of public transportation. We recommend employees to use the King County Trip Planner to help determine the best public transit route to and from work. Participation begins with the first day of employment with CHPW.

ORCA Passport Program

There are many benefits to using public transportation. At CHPW, we support the Commute Trip Reduction Law and encourage employees to utilize public transportation for their commute for the benefits of protecting the environment, reduced commute stress, and reducing out of pocket commute costs. CHPW purchases annual passes through the ORCA Passport Program for all full-time employees commuting to the main office.

Your commute options with this pass include unlimited usage across:

  • All Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Kitsap, Pierce and Everett Transit Services
  • LINK light rail
  • Monorail
  • Vanpool and Vanshare
  • Access to Seattle Streetcars and Water Taxis

Additional program benefits include:

  • Up to 8 free emergency taxi rides home per year (Home Free Guarantee)
  • A Ferry add-on option available for an additional cost

Commuters who choose the ORCA Passport, have the added benefits of utilizing the card for personal travel outside commute times, on the public transportation options listed above.

Parking Expenses

As an alternative, employees may choose to have the transportation subsidy applied toward parking expenses instead of an ORCA Passport.

CHPW offers a $115 reimbursement towards parking expenses on a pre-tax basis.

Note: This counts towards the $300 Section 132 Plan limit. Employees are eligible to be reimbursed the difference between the IRS limit and CHPW subsidy on a pre-tax basis.

Section 132

Employees whose transportation expenses exceed CHPW’s monthly subsidy may have their excess expenses deducted from their paycheck on a pre-tax basis.

Employees can claim pre-tax expenses up to:

  • $315 per month for public transportation
  • $315 per month for parking