Commuter Value Pass
For employees at companies with 20 or more MCTS riders, the Commuter Value Pass program is a tax-smart employee benefit that provides reliable transportation at the lowest possible cost.
Plus, the MCTS Emergency Ride Program is available if the employer chooses to participate and is free to all recipients of Commuter Value Passes.
Participating employees receive an unlimited pass good for use on all MCTS services.
Commuter Value Passes Are...
- Easy to Use: Employees simply show their passes when boarding.
- Secure: Passes include photo identification and are revalidated each quarter.
- Economical: The employee's cost contribution provides for unlimited use on any MCTS route, including Freeway Flyers, festival services and special event shuttles – almost 65 percent less than the cash price for commuting by bus five days a week.
- A Partnership: Employers contribute a portion of the cost per employee per month, MCTS provides a 14 percent discount from the Weekly Pass price and the employee pays the remainder.
- Tax-smart: The employer contribution is a deductible business expense and is tax-free for the employee. In addition, the employee cost can be deducted as a pre-tax reduction in wages, resulting in further savings for both employees and employers. (You may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this form.)
Advantages for Your Company
- Easy to Administer: Employers are billed once per quarter, but employees may join or leave on a monthly basis. MCTS representatives manage the enrollment and produce the passes.
- A Great Employee Benefit: For approximately $1 per employee per day, you can help fill a very basic need – transportation. It provides a benefit that will be used regularly and assists you in recruiting and retaining employees throughout Milwaukee County.
- Relief: A way to help your employees avoid construction delays and the hassles and expense of driving and parking during peak traffic hours.
- A Positive Direction: This program provides an effective way to combat traffic congestion and reduce parking requirements.
If you have any questions regarding the MCTS Commuter Value Pass, please contact MCTS at (414) 343-1777.
Some Participating Companies
Commuter Value Certificates
MCTS offers the Commuter Value Certificate, a voucher that employers can purchase and distribute to employees as a 100 percent employer paid, tax-free transit benefit.
- Each certificate can be exchanged for a weekly pass or strip of regular fare tickets, or can be used toward the purchase of premium/Freeway Flyer tickets or a monthly pass.
- Commuter Value Certificates equal the cost of a standard adult weekly pass or 10 adult tickets. The minimum order quantity is 20 and they must be purchased in multiples of four certificates. Certificates do not expire and can be exchanged at any MCTS retail outlet.
- Employers may purchase Commuter Value Certificates after signing a letter of agreement which details their responsibilities while participating in the program.
- You can print an order form online and then mail your completed form and payment to MCTS. (You may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this form.)
- Commuter Value Certificates must be provided to the employee/client as a no-charge and tax-free transit benefit. For federally taxed organizations, certificates are tax deductible as an employee benefit expense.
- Commuter Value Certificates are a very effective employee benefit. Employees use their passes or tickets every workday and gain reliable transportation to work at the same time. The program can be a real advantage in recruiting and retaining employees.
If your company has 20 or more employees who are bus riders, you can qualify for even greater savings with the Commuter Value Pass.
If you have any questions regarding Commuter Value Certificates, please contact MCTS at (414) 343-1777.
Emergency Ride Program
Employers who are enrolled in the Commuter Value Pass or Commuter Value Certificate Programs are eligible to enroll, for no extra cost, in a program where MCTS will provide a free taxi ride to employees who need immediate transportation due to a family member's illness or medical emergency.
This is a convenient service for employees with children in day care or other family members in programs where regular transit service operates in peak periods only. It is free of charge and is administered by the participating employers.
How it Works
- If participants must leave work and the MCTS service they normally use is not available, they obtain a voucher from the Commuter Value coordinator at their location.
- All Commuter Value participants will receive a voucher good for taxi transportation (maximum value of $50.00).
- Employers and employees never deal with money. A bill is automatically sent to Milwaukee County Transit System.
- Employees return a copy of the completed voucher to their coordinator for verification.
For more information about Emergency Ride or the other MCTS employer programs, please call MCTS Business Services at (414) 343-1777.