Federal Workforce Transportation

Impact dates

1. Oct 1, 2003

   Pilot program concludes (3 years from implementation)

2. Oct 1, 2000

   Federal agencies implement transportation fringe benefit program

3. Oct 1, 2000

   National Capital Region agencies implement transit pass program

4. Oct 1, 2000

   DOT/EPA/DOE implement 3-year transit pass pilot program

Key directives

• Federal agencies shall implement transportation fringe benefit program by October 1, 2000
• National Capital Region agencies shall implement transit pass program by October 1, 2000
• DOT, EPA, and DOE shall implement 3-year transit pass pilot program by October 1, 2000
• Agencies shall develop implementation plans in consultation with Treasury, DOT, EPA, OPM, GSA, and OMB
• Agencies shall absorb costs within FY 2001 budget sums
• Pilot program effectiveness must be analyzed before nationwide extension

Who is ordered

• Secretary of Transportation · Department of Transportation
• Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency · Environmental Protection Agency
• Secretary of Energy · Department of Energy
• Secretary of the Treasury · Treasury
• Director of the Office of Personnel Management · OPM
• Administrator of General Services · GSA
• Director of the Office of Management and Budget · Office of Management and Budget

Timeline

Risks & tensions

• Cost absorption requirement within existing FY 2001 budgets may create implementation friction
• 'Approximately equal to employee commuting costs' in Section 2 leaves room for administrative interpretation
• Pilot program evaluation criteria not specified; 'among other things' leaves analysis scope open
• No enforcement mechanism stated beyond agency self-implementation
• Judicial review disclaimer (Section 5) eliminates private right of action for employees if agencies fail to comply