Pilot Clean Commute Incentive Program

The Pilot Program will go as long as funding is available, which is expected to be 12-18 months.  We will be continuously evaluating program participation levels to determine if ongoing funding should be assigned to the program.

Full-Time and Part-Time County employees are eligible for the incentive. For questions about eligibility, please contact HR Benefits at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

Please use these Step-By-Step Instructions to log your trips, and refer to the Online Trip Tracker page for FAQs. 

A Carpool is defined as two or more people, where at least one person is a County employee, commuting to a worksite in the same vehicle.   Carpooling with members of your household is not eligible, i.e. dropping kids off at school or dropping spouse/partner off at work, unless you are both County employees traveling to work together. 

No, the lump sum incentive for Bus, Carpool, Bike and Walking (Option 1) cannot be combined with the My Commuter Check pre-tax matching program (Option 2), even if the My Commuter Check match payments are below $40. 

Even if multiple modes are used are in a day, it only counts as one day towards the 48.

This incentive would be paid out twice a year, in the employee’s paycheck, for a maximum of $480 per year.  At the end of each 6-month period, the Clean Commute Program Manager will run a report out of the Online Trip Tracker showing which employees are eligible for the lump sum payments and will provide a list to Payroll.  Depending on the time of year and Payroll’s workload, it may take one or two pay periods before the lump sum payments are paid out to employees.

Purchases made through My Commuter Check will automatically receive a subsidy each month of up to $40.  The County’s match will be deducted from the pre-tax amount removed from your paycheck, and the total value of your purchase will be added to your Clipper Card.  For instance, if you purchase a SMART 31-Day Pass for $135, the County will contribute $40 and your paycheck will be deducted the remaining $95.  Purchases below $80 will receive a subsidy of the half the value.  For instance, if you elect to put $40 of eCash on a Clipper Card, the County will contribute $20 and your paycheck will be deducted the remaining $20.

The pilot Clean Commute Incentive Program is entirely optional.  If you qualify to receive a benefit, but do not wish to receive payment, you can opt out of the program by emailing HR Benefits at benefits@sonoma-county.org.

Yes, bus trips on Santa Rosa CityBus and/or Sonoma County Transit to commute to a County worksite are eligible towards the 48-day requirement. 

No, both forms of the incentives (Option 1 and Option 2) are not pensionable.

Yes, you are still eligible to receive the lump sum payment and Payroll will mail a check to you at the address they have on file.