Phone: 503-823-3572
Benefits Line: 503-823-6031
1120 SW 5th Ave, Room 987, Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503-823-3572
Benefits Line: 503-823-6031
1120 SW 5th Ave, Room 987, Portland, OR 97204
Trip Reduction Incentive Plan (TRIP)
The City offers a variety of trip reduction incentives for transit, carpooling, biking and walking to work. For full program information, please see Human Resources Administrative Rule 10.03. TRIP is managed by the Bureau of Transportation and the HR & Payroll Services department. For enrollment and more information, go to the Employee Programs tab in Employee Self-Service in CityLink.
Additional information is available below or by contacting your bureau's transportation coordinator or Maria Xiong on the HR payroll & services team at maria.xiong@portlandoregon.gov
Jump to top of General Questions
QUESTION |
ANSWER |
Am I eligible for the transit, carpool, bike & walk incentive program, known as TRIP, Trip Reduction Incentive Program? |
Yes- If you are a City of Portland Employee who is eligible for benefits No- If you work for a temporary agency, private contractor, or you are a seasonal employee not eligible for benefits. Contact your bureau’s timekeeper with benefit eligibility questions. |
How do I sign up, change, or cancel my Bike & Walk Bucks? |
In SAP Employee Self Service. Look for the tab called Employees Programs. This is where you can find the link to the Bike & Walk Bucks online form and get information on the "Trip Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP) incentives. |
How does the City calculate the $50 monthly incentive? |
The language from the 2013 City of Portland T.R.I.P Ordinance states: PBOT and OMF shall maintain an incentive contribution rate for all city bureaus that is roughly equivalent to 50% of the cost of a TriMet pass, rounded to the nearest dollar. The incentive contribution rate shall be reviewed annually and set no later than January 1 to be in the budget the subsequent fiscal year. |
When can I submit Bike & Walk Bucks? |
You can submit your Bike & Walk Bucks incentive at any time before the last work day of each quarter. Not necessary to wait until you finished certain month. If you would like an email reminder, send an email to maria.xiong@portlandoregon.gov and you will be added to a reminder list that goes out at the end of each quarter. |
How do I know, or double check, if I received the Bike & Walk Bucks incentives? |
The Bike & Walk Bucks incentives are paid out quarterly with the 2nd paycheck of January, April, July, and October. Review your pay statement or paystub to confirm you received the incentives on time. |
What if I can’t remember if I already turned in my Bike & Walk Bucks? |
In SAP Employee Self Service. Look for the tab called Employees Programs. Select the Bike & Walk Bucks link to be taken to the online form that has an overview of your submissions. |
Instead of submitting Bike & Walk Bucks in SAP Employee Self Service for each quarter, can I fill in a paper form and send it to payroll office? |
NO – Employee whoever wants to have the Bike & Walk Bucks incentive must make the submission through SAP Employee Self Service. The paper form is granted conditionally for approved exemptions only. |
Can I submit Bike & Walk Bucks if part of my commute is riding the bus or MAX, or if some days I just walk to the bus/Max and don’t ride my bike at all? |
Yes - You can use combinations of walking, biking, and transit and still be eligible for Bike & walk Bucks; however, if you participated the Bike & Walk Bucks, you cannot sign up for any TriMet/CTRAN/Columbia County Rider transit pass at the same time. |
Can I submit Bike & Walk Bucks while at the same time, sign up for a TriMet/CTRAN Benefit Plan? |
No - You cannot have Bike & Walk Bucks and any TriMet/CTRAN/Columbia County Rider transit pass at the same time. Once you submit Bike & Walk Bucks, you are not eligible for any TriMet/CTRAN/Columbia County Rider annual or monthly transit pass. |
What if I want to bike or walk to work in the nicer months and take the bus in the Fall/Winter? |
You can sign up for the monthly transit pass deduction for the rainy season. Please make sure your TriMet/CTRAN monthly pass is stopped approximately 8 weeks in advance of switching over to Bike & Walk Bucks. When you want to get the pass again enroll in SAP for a TriMet Monthly Pass 8 weeks ahead of wanting your next pass. |
What are the rules for the Bike & Walk Bucks Program? |
Please refer to Bike & Walk Bucks Section, HR Administrative Rule 10.03. A link to "Human Resources Administrative Rule 10.03" is show up on the top of this webpage. They are also available in the City of Portland, Bureau of Human Resources Website. Launch into City of Portland Home page, find “Bureaus” section, scroll down to Letter “H” and click “Human Resources, Bureau of” to launch to BHR website. Find the "Administrative Rules" section, and scroll down to “10.03 Trip Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP)" |
Jump to top of Bike & Walk Bucks
QUESTION |
ANSWER |
How does the City calculate the $50 monthly incentive? |
The language from the 2013 City of Portland T.R.I.P Ordinance states: PBOT and OMF shall maintain an incentive contribution rate for all city bureaus that is roughly equivalent to 50% of the cost of a TriMet pass, rounded to the nearest dollar. The incentive contribution rate shall be reviewed annually and set no later than January 1 to be in the budget the subsequent fiscal year. |
How do I get Carpool checks? |
Complete a carpool application form and send it to maria.xiong@portlandoregon.gov |
Where can I park and use Carpool checks to pay for parking? |
Private parking lot and garage operators in the downtown area will accept carpool checks towards your monthly payment. In addition, you can use carpool checks towards a carpool permit at a City-owned Smartpark garages and on-street meters. Contact the Bureau of Transportation Parking Permit program in at x3-2777. |
Can I carpool with my friend or family but still be qualified for this program? |
Yes – Your carpool partner is not necessary to be a City employee. But all carpool members must work or go to school within the boundary area indicated on the Carpool Zone Map, HR Administrative Rule 10.03. The map is also available in the Carpool Application Form. Please contact maria.xiong@portlandoregon.gov for a copy. |
Can I use Carpool check if my carpool vehicle parks in a free parking lot outside of Downtown, such as Water Bureau Interstate or the Wastewater Treatment Plant? |
No – Carpool check is only available to City carpoolers who pay for monthly parking. |
What if my parking lot do not want to accept carpool checks and insist me to pay in full? Can I pay my monthly parking fee in full amount and get reimbursed for $50.00 every month? |
No – The City cannot reimburse carpooler directly. Carpooler should let the parking management understand that they need to send separate invoices to the carpooler and to the City. |
What if my carpool partner is going to have a medical leave or on vacation? Can I drive alone but still be qualified for this program? |
Yes – You can drive alone and still be qualified for this program if your carpool partner takes a leave of absence for a period less than 4 weeks. If the absence is greater than 4 weeks, it is the remaining carpooler(s)’ responsibility to find another qualified partner and complete a new application form. |
What are the rules for the Carpool Program? |
Please refer to Carpool Section, HR Administrative Rule 10.03. A link to "Human Resources Administrative Rule 10.03" is show up on the top of this webpage. They are also available in the City of Portland, Bureau of Human Resources Website. Launch into City of Portland Home page, find “Bureaus” section, scroll down to Letter “H” and click “Human Resources, Bureau of” to launch to BHR website. Find the "Administrative Rules" section, scroll down to “10.03 Trip Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP)". |
Jump to top of Carpool Questions
QUESTION |
ANSWER |
Rules of the Emergency Ride Home (from HR 10.03) |
For employees who carpool, use transit, walk, skateboard, skate or bike to work, Tri-Met will pay for a taxi to take them home if they need to leave work unexpectedly due to an emergency. When the emergency occurs contact your bureau’s designated transportation coordinator for a voucher and to call a taxi cab company specified on the voucher.
Authorized reasons for using Emergency Ride Home Program are:
If you do not know who is your transportation coordinator, please contact maria.xiong@portlandoregon.gov |