Article 4
Mass Transit Subsidy

The parties agree that the Department will maintain a transit subsidy program available to bargaining unit employees as follows:

a. Within budgetary limitations, all bargaining unit users of eligible mass transit or eligible commuter highway vehicles (CHVs) will be provided a subsidy via MetroChek. The subsidy will be in amounts equal to mass transit commuting costs, but not to exceed $100.00 per month.
b. All bargaining unit employees who convert from commuting solely by privately operated vehicles (POVs) to eligible mass transit or eligible CHVs for all or part of their commute will receive an additional $5.00 per month for six months.
c. The Department may reduce or suspend the transit subsidy for all bargaining unit employees when it deems funding to be insufficient.
d. An employee’s monthly subsidy cannot exceed the employee’s actual cost of commuting by eligible mass transit or CHV.
e. If an employee’s mass transit provider does not accept MetroChek, the Department will attempt to establish with the provider an equivalent arrangement.
f. Employee participants must certify each month that they use eligible mass transit or eligible CHV as their regular and recurring means of commuting.
g. MetroChek is not transferable.
h. In addition to the forums provided in Article 40 of the Agreement, the Union President or designee may raise on an ad hoc basis issues or concerns about the operations of the program with the Director of Labor-Management Relations or designee.