Clean Commute Incentive Program
The Sonoma County Clean Commute Employee Benefit Program was created to promote the use of alternative forms of transportation to reduce the County’s overall carbon emissions. Permanent County employees are eligible for up to $100 per month if they ride the train, bus, carpool, bike or walk to work at least 48 days in a six-month period.
Log your clean commute trips to be eligible for the incentive
Train, Bus, Carpool, Bike and Walking
The County will provide a taxable, lump sum payment of $600 if an employee has taken the bus, carpooled, biked, or walked to work at least 48 days within a six-month reporting period. Those 48 days can be achieved through a combination of any of those modes.
Employees must use the Online Trip Tracker to log their bus, carpool, bike, and walktrips in order to be eligible for this incentive. Telework is not an eligible mode for this incentive.
The six-month reporting periods for Option 1 are from January 1st through June 30th and July 1st through December 31st.
Audits of the Bus, Carpool, Bike and Walking incentive will be conducted to ensure compliance with program requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will this pilot Incentive Program last?
The current Incentive Program is extended to run through December 31, 2026. The pre-tax program has concluded.
What employees are eligible to participate in the Incentive Program?
Permanent 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.
How do I log my trips on the Online Trip Tracker?
Please use these Step-By-Step Instructions to log your trips, and refer to the Online Trip Tracker page for FAQs.
What qualifies as a Carpool under this incentive program?
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.
I used multiple alternative commute modes in one day (i.e. I walked to the bus stop, took the bus to work, and then joined a carpool to get home). Does that count as one or three days towards the 48-day requirement?
Even if multiple modes are used in a day, it only counts as one day towards the 48.
How will the Train, Bus, Carpool, Bike and Walking (Option 1) lump sum payments be paid out to employees?
This incentive would be paid out twice a year in the employee’s paycheck, for a maximum of $1,200 per year. At the end of each six-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. Please note that employees have up-to 5 weeks from the date a trip was taken to log in the trip tracker. 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.
What if I qualify for an incentive, but I do not wish to receive a benefit?
The 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.
I currently commute on Santa Rosa CityBus and/or Sonoma County Transit. Am I still eligible for the lump sum incentive?
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.
Will the incentive payments impact my pension?
Clean Commute incentives are not pensionable.
I have recently terminated my employment with the County but have met the eligibility requirements for the lump sum incentive prior to the 6-month reporting period ending. Do I still qualify to receive the benefit?
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.