Commuter Benefit Programs

Employee Commuter Programs

The City has a number of programs and perks to support employees and the city’s commitment to expand opportunities for employees to travel by means other than driving. Current City employees can explore all commuter resources on the Department Of Transportation's Employee Commute Programs SharePoint page.

Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit

The City's pre-tax commuter benefit offers an opportunity for eligible employees to pay for non-VTA transit expenses with pre-tax dollars.

Qualifying Expenses

Qualifying expenses for transit services include subways, buses, ferries, commuter rail, and vanpools. Locally, this includes BART, Caltrain, Highway 17 Express Buses, ACE trains, and Vanpools. Expenses that are not eligible include parking, carpools, tolls, gas, and other driving related expenses.

Eligibility

Eligible employees are full-time and part-time benefited City employees classified at 20 hours per week or more. Part-time unbenefited are not eligible to participate.

How to Enroll

Complete and submit the Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit Enrollment/Change Form. Employees can enroll in, update elections, or cancel your commuter benefit election each month. Elections or cancellation of elections will be effective the first semi-monthly payday of the next month as long as the Enrollment/Change Form is received and processed by Human Resources before payroll’s cutoff date.

Elections

Eligible employees can elect up to a maximum of $225 per month withheld from their paychecks pre-tax ($112.50 semimonthly; deducted on the first two paydays of each month).

In 2023, maximum of $210 per month withheld from their paychecks pre-tax ($105 semimonthly; deducted on the first two paydays of each month).

For 2024, federal tax rules allow up to $315 per month in pre-tax transportation benefits. The market value of the City provided Eco Pass of $90 per month is allocated towards the limit of $315 per month. Therefore, the maximum employees may contribute for 2024 towards the Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit is $225 per month.

IMORTANT NOTE: Any unused commuter contributions left in the plan upon separation of employment will be forfeited. Be sure to plan accordingly and adjust your contributions via the Enrollment/Change Form.

Changing Elections

Employees may change the amount of their commuter benefit election each month. Changes will be effective the first semi-monthly payday of the next month as long as the Enrollment/Change Form is received and processed by Human Resources before payroll’s cutoff date.

VTA SmartPass

Valley Transportation Authority(VTA) SmartPass is available free of cost to benefited employees*. The VTA SmartPass allows for the use of 3 VTA transit services (Bus, Rapid Bus, and Light Rail) free of charge. Express buses are 50% off the ticket price (must have funds loaded on Smart Pass). The SmartPass comes loaded onto a Clipper card which all Bay Area transit agencies now use for fare payment. Each time you board a VTA bus or light rail train, you must touch the card to a Clipper card scanner, which will register the pass and allow you to board without paying. To load funds on your Smart Pass to use for transit services not covered by the VTA Smart Pass (CalTrain, ACE, BART), please visit https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/ or call Clipper Customer Service at 877-878-8883.

How do I get my SmartPass?

If you would like a SmartPass, and are eligible for one, send an e-mail with the following information (see below) to SmartPass@sanjoseca.gov.

Your given name (first, middle, and last) and your preferred first name, if you go by something other than your given name
Your City ID number
Your work location (e.g. City Hall, Central Service Yard, etc.)
A phone number and/or email where we can reach you

We will submit your application to VTA and contact you when we receive your pass. The process typically takes a couple of weeks from the date your application is submitted.