New Directions Program
for Faculty & Staff

The alternative commute program for UC Berkeley

Introduction

UC Berkeley faculty and staff are avid users of alternative transportation. Almost half of our faculty and staff commute to UCB either by public transportation, as bicyclists and pedestrians, or by carpool or vanpool. The Parking & Transportation department’s New Directions program offers a variety of transportation benefits and incentives for these employees.

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Program Benefits

48 Days of Discount Parking Bear Pass — Unlimited AC Transit Rides at Discount BearTransit Shuttle Pass — for Free Campus Shuttle Rides Emergency Rides Home Carpools and Discount Parking

Pre-tax transit purchases Transit tickets by mail Transit subsidies Bicycle programs Pedestrian programs Vanpools Car Sharing

Program Eligibility

UC Berkeley faculty and staff* (career, most casual appointments, visiting scholars and post-doctorates) and other select UCB employees who do not hold a daytime campus parking permit are eligible to participate in New Directions.

Employees who use any form of public transportation, walk to campus, ride a bike to campus, or come to campus in an informal carpool, may stop by the P&T office to declare their eligibility and claim or purchase passes, permits or services offered by the progam. Those employees who hold a Bear Pass, carpoolers, transit subsidy participants, transit pre-tax participants, and vanpoolers, are all already participants in the New Directions program.

See Employee Verification for more about eligibility

*Please Note: Applicability of parking rates and transportation program options may vary based on the terms of individual collective bargaining agreements. Employees may wish to consult with Labor Relations at 642-0429

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Program Description

48 Days of Discount Parking

All New Directions participants are also eligible to purchase 48 days of discount parking a year for days when they need to drive alone.

Permits are sold individually, so customers can purchase any number in a visit up to the annual limit. Once participants exhaust the 48 days of discounted parking, they are eligible to purchase daily parking at the standard rates.

Customers must come to the Parking & Transportation office to purchase the "Occasional Use Scratch-off Hangtag" permits. Payments may be made by cash, check or credit.

See the Product List for most current rates.

BearTransit Campus Shuttle Pass

BearTransit rides on the "P" , "R", "C", and "H" (Hill) lines are free to faculty, staff, visiting scholars and other select UCB employees if they show one of these passes/IDs:

• BearTransit Shuttle Pass
• Bear Pass
• emeriti ID card

The BearTransit Shuttle pass is available at no charge to all participants in the New Directions Program, including all annual parking or carpool permit holders. If you currently use alternative transportation, you may stop by the P&T office to join New Directions and request your free Bear Transit Shuttle Pass.

The Richmond Field Station ("RFS") shuttle requires all riders to either pay at the fare box or buy RFS ride passes from the P&T office. Please see the BearTransit page for current fares to the Richmond Field Station.

Other campus affiliates who are not eligible for participation in New Directions, can pay the fare box or may purchase an annual BearTransit campus shuttle pass. See the Product List for current BearTransit Shuttle Pass prices.

See the BearTransit page for more info on routes and fares.

Emergency Rides Home

An insurance program offering free rides in the event of personal emergency

All faculty and staff are eligible for the Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program offering UCB employees up to six free rides home per year in the event of a personal emergency. Employees must be using a commute alternative the day they use the GRH. This program is offered by the Alameda Congestion Management Agency at no cost to the University. For more information and application, visit the CMA website.

Discount Parking for Carpools

The Faculty/Staff carpool program offers discounts on parking to employees who carpool. Over 700 campus employees now commute by carpool. To qualify for the carpool permit, you must be a current UC Berkeley employee. Carpoolers are not required to pay the $36 annual transportation fee.

Permits and lot access

The program allows individuals to purchase a carpool permit with the level of access to which they are entitled ("C", "F", or "S"). Students and employees may carpool together. Two carpool permits must be displayed in a vehicle to be considered a carpool. Any two or more carpool permit holders traveling together becomes a carpool with parking access to the highest level of carpool permit displayed.

If you cannot carpool on a given day, you may display your individual carpool permit along with a daily dispensing machine ticket (DMT) from one of the ticket machines in the lot. Or a discount Occasional Use Parking Permit which you may purchase at the P&T office. (See the Product List for more info). Parking as an individual is limited to your level of carpool permit access ("C", "F", or "S" spaces).

Reserved carpool parking spaces until 10:00am

Reserved carpool parking spaces are available throughout the campus. These reserved spaces are open to all carpoolers on a first-come first served basis, on weekdays until 10:00am, and not assigned to specific carpool groups. See the campus parking map for carpool space locations. (Available on the Forms and Publications page.)

Finding carpool partners

You can find possible carpool mates from your area through the regional ride matching system. Get your match list on-line at through ridematch.511.org read more at rideshare.511.org or call 511.

For costs of both carpool permits and dispensing machine tickets (DMTs), see our Product List.
For information on how to purchase or renew carpool permits, see our Parking Permits section.
Employees who already hold a carpool permit, but who infrequently carpool, are also eligible for discounts on a Daily Scratch-Off Hangtag parking permit if they visit the P&T Office to purchase.

 

Pre-Tax Transit Purchases through Automatic Payroll Deduction

Pre-Tax Transit Program participants enjoy a $10 per month transit subsidy and pre-tax purchase savings

The Pre-Tax program enables UC employees to purchase transit tickets for BART, or Vallejo/Fairfield Transit through Automatic Payroll Deduction with pre-tax dollars. This is a great program for those who need the same transit tickets each month. By using pre-tax dollars, employees realize between 12% and 46% savings depending on their tax bracket. Effective January 1, 2007: Federal tax law allows employees to spend up to $110 per month pre-tax on transit expenses. Under the Pre-Tax program, employees can utilize the $10 per month subsidy and up to $100 pre-tax funds to purchase transit passes*. Purchases exceeding the $110 can still be payroll deducted but those additional dollars will be from post-tax funds. Employees can choose the combination of ticket types that best suit their commute.

To participate, employees must be eligible for the payroll deduction plan.
For specific information about public transit systems visit 511.org.

* P&T has discontinued the sale of AC Transit tickets. The Bear Pass has replaced the Transit Subsidy purchase option for AC Transit tickets. Tickets from other transit providers, BART or Vallejo/Fairfield Transit, may still be purchased by Bear Pass holders at market price. Bear Pass holders are not eligible for the monthly subsidy toward these ticket purchases.

Transit Tickets by Mail

If you purchase your transit tickets using pre-tax dollars, you can have your transit tickets mailed directly to your home address every month free of charge. Use the Employee Discount Transit Tickets Form (PDF, 165 Kb)
to enroll

Transit Subsidy Program

Get a $10 a month subsidy for public transit tickets even without participating in Pre-Tax Program

Public transit commuters not eligible for the pre-tax program or those who vary their transit use from month to month can enjoy a $10 per month subsidy toward the purchase of BART or Vallejo/Fairfield Transit tickets. These tickets are sold at the Parking & Transportation Customer Service Office. 

For specific information about local public transit systems visit 511.org.

* P&T has discontinued the sale of AC Transit tickets. The Bear Pass has replaced the Transit Subsidy purchase option for AC Transit tickets. Tickets from other transit providers, BART or Vallejo/Fairfield Transit, may still be purchased by Bear Pass holders at market price. Bear Pass holders are not eligible for the monthly subsidy toward these ticket purchases.

Bicycle Programs

P&T offers many programs for your bike commute, including Free Bicycle Licensing, Secure Bicycle parking and other resources. You can find details of our bicycle programs and publications at our Bicycle Information page.

Bicycle commuters are encouraged to join the New Directions bicycle program if they want to take to take advantage of the discounted occasional use parking and get a free BearTransit Shuttle Pass.  Bicycle commuters that use transit as a back up to cycling should consider using the New Directions Transit Subsidy program for BART, Vallejo/Fairfield transit tickets or the Bear Pass program for AC Transit to take advantage of discounts.

Programs for Pedestrians

Pedestrian commuters are encouraged to join the New Directions bicycle program if they want to take to take advantage of the discounted occasional use parking and get a free BearTransit Shuttle Pass.  Walkers that use transit as a back-up should consider joining the New Directions Transit Subsidy or Pre-Tax Transit program for BART, Vallejo/Fairfield transit tickets or the Bear Pass program for AC Transit to take advantage of discounts.

Vanpools

Vanpools are a comfortable, economical way to commute for a distance of 20 miles or more. Vanpools are operated by a group of seven or more employees who commute in one vehicle from the same area. Vanpoolers are eligible for other New Directions benefits including discounted parking, and the Guaranteed Ride Home program by completing the required applications.

Vanpools coming to the UC Berkeley are owner/operated and not sponsored by P&T. P&T provides free campus parking to vanpools.  For more information on vanpools in your area visit 511.org or call 511.

Car Sharing

UC Berkeley now hosts two car sharing services on-campus – City Carshare and Flexcar.  Each service provides its members with short-term car rentals. Car sharing fits perfectly in a University setting.  Car sharing is an excellent alternative to automobile ownership for staff and faculty, or as a way to access a car at work for local errands if they are commuting to campus to via transit, carpools, and other alternative modes.

See our Car Sharing page.

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How to Apply

You can participate in several complimentary New Directions programs concurrently (e.g., if you commute by AC Transit using the Bear Pass, you may also purchase discount parking for the times that you need to drive, and participate in the free Guaranteed Ride Home program in case of an emergency commute need. Apply for a permit or pass you’d like to purchase by clicking on its link in the list below, and follow the instructions provided.

• Secure Bicycle Parking
• Bear Pass
• BearTransit Shuttle Pass
• Carpool Program
• Transit Subsidy Program
• Pre-Tax Transit Purchases through Automatic Payroll Deduction
• Emergency Rides Home
• City CarShare
• Flexcar

I need to know about

• Verifying Employment Status
• Automatic Payroll Deduction
• Canceling a Permit or Program

To apply for Transit Subsidy or Pre-Tax Transit Programs:

1. Download the appropriate program form
2. Complete the application online and print a hard-copy or print the form and complete it by hand.
3. Submit your completed application:
• In-Person: P&T office, 2150 Kittredge St., 1st Floor.  Required if purchasing items by cash, check or credit.
• By Mail:  if you are purchasing by payroll deduction, you can mail application material to the P&T office, 2150 Kittredge St., Berkeley, CA 94720-5740.

To apply for Carpools:

1. Download the Parking Permit Application
2. Fill out application online and print a hard-copy or print the form and fill it out by hand. Sign and date the form. Each member of the carpool must complete an application.
3. Select payment method.  PLEASE NOTE:  if members are eligible for payroll deduction, this payment method must be used; if you do not qualify for payroll deduction you may pay by cash, check or credit.
4. Submit all members’ applications together in one packet:
• In-Person: P&T office, 2150 Kittredge St., 1st Floor.  Required if purchasing items by cash, check or credit.
• By Mail:  if you are purchasing by payroll deduction, you can mail application material to the P&T office, 2150 Kittredge St., Berkeley, CA 94720-5740.

If applications are submitted by mail, the Carpool parking permit will be mailed to the home address of one of the carpool members. Please allow 5-7 business days for receipt of the permit.

If you are purchasing by payroll deduction and applying by mail, P&T must receive materials on or before the 10th of the month.  Applications received after the 10th will be processed for the following month.

Employee Verification

Employees who enroll in a program for the first time in the fiscal year will be required to provide a photo ID to verify status in the Human Resources Management System (HRMS).

If the employee's updated information is not in HRMS, the employee must ask his or her Payroll representative to complete and sign an Employment Verification Form (PDF, 33 KB).

Please note: Employees are required to inform P&T Customer Services of any change in employment.

Automatic Payroll Deduction

If you are a full time/career employee or on casual employment status through the end of the fiscal year, fees can be deducted on a pre-tax basis from your paycheck each month. Carpoolers and Bear Pass holders eligible for payroll deduction are required to pay using this method. Select this payment option on the appropriate form when you apply for a service, permit, or pass offered by the New Directions program. For more information, see the Faculty/Staff Permits page.

How to Cancel a Permit or Pass

Follow these steps to cancel your permit or pass. If you cancel all permits and passes, you will end your participation in the program.

1. Select the appropriate pass or permit form.
2. Bring completed form, along with your current permit or pass that you’re canceling to the P&T Customer Services office for processing.

Customers using payroll deduction PLEASE NOTE: permits and cancellation form must be received on or before the 10th of the month to prevent a deduction from the following month’s paycheck.

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Transportation Alternative Forms & Publications

• Bear Pass Form (130 Kb,PDF)
  (Enroll, Change or Cancel Bear Pass)

• Secure Bicycle Parking Form (273 Kb, PDF)
  (Apply for Secure Bicycle Parking)
• Employee Discount Transit Tickets Form (PDF, 165 Kb)
  (Enroll, Change or Cancel Pre-Tax Transit Ticket Subsidy)

• Permit Application Form (1,160 Kb PDF)
  (use for Discount Night/Weekend and Carpool permit)
• Permit Cancellation Form (292 Kb, PDF)
  (use for Discount Night/Weekend and Carpool permit)

• BearTransit System Guide (4,000 Kb,PDF)
• Printed BearTransit System Guide (4,000 Kb,PDF)(Download)

 

See the Forms and Publications page for a complete list of the department's forms.

See the Product Page for a complete list of Transit Products.

 

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