MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Have you heard your friends and coworkers talk about going to finance to get their free bus passes and not know what they are talking about?
If you are a Department of Defense employee and have not signed up for MacDill's Transportation Incentive Program, you are missing a benefit that could save you hundreds of dollars a month in fuel and toll costs.
Currently, MacDill has more than 1,500 personnel who take advantage of a daily, hassle-free express bus ride or vanpool, which is 100% paid for by Uncle Sam. Do we have your attention yet?
The TIP has its origins in Executive Order 13150, which seeks to reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption and emissions by military members and federal employees by mandating a public transportation program that offers assistance with commuting costs.
The TIP provides free monthly express HARTline bus passes to commuters who live in the Brandon, Valrico, Riverview and Fishawk areas east of Tampa.
For HARTline “Park-n-Ride” locations, visit http://www.gohart.org/Pages/maps-park-ride.aspx
For express bus schedules within Hillsborough county, visit www.gohart.org and click on "Maps and Schedules," and then "South Tampa Limited Express"
For those who live in other places in the greater Tampa area, TIP also offers a vanpool program. The vanpool program provides commuters, in groups of five or more, funding to secure a passenger van for their daily commute. For information on the vanpool program visit www.tampabayrideshare.org/vanpool.
There are a few stipulations to the TIP program. Participants may not seek personal financial gain through the trade or sale of bus passes or vanpool transportation vouchers. And TIP applications shall be based solely on costs associated with the use of a qualified mode of transportation to and from MacDill in conjunction with employment by the Department of Defense.
The following are eligible for TIP benefits:
1) DoD active duty military members
2) DoD Reserve military members including both Reservists and National Guard Members on active duty status
3) DoD Federal civilian employees
4) DoD NAF personnel
The TIP program is managed by the 6th Comptroller Squadron, Financial Services Office in Bldg. 147 on Hillsborough Loop.
After identifying the service or bus route that will best serve you, please e-mail finance.services@macdill.af.mil to get a copy of the application.
Applications must be returned in person so eligibility requirements can be verified using the member’s DoD-issued ID card. Applications can be dropped off on any duty day and are processed at the end of each month. Riders typically can pick up their bus pass/vanpool vouchers by the third week of the month after they apply.
For more information, please contact the 6th Comptroller Squadron Financial Services Office customer service at 813-828-5377.