Employee Incentive Program

Employees can get up to $30 per month for commuting sustainably.

In 2023 the annual commute cost for drivers in LA was $6,877.72, or under $30 a day (based on cost of living and amount of time spent on the road). SMC encourages our employees to save money, save time, and reduce stress from driving by offering cash incentives each month to employees who use alternative modes to get to work. In addition to earning up to $30 per month for commuting sustainably, SMC employees can get unlimited rides on the Big Blue Bus all year long (see below for steps to get your pass)

• Employees can get a free BBB pass on their smartphone or a physical TAP card.
• For a plastic TAP card: email transportation@smc.edu to request a card be picked up at the Cashier's Office or mailed to your department or home address.
• For the mobile pass, click on this link and enter your @smc.edu email address.
  • You will receive a text message with a link to download the Token Transit app.
  • Once downloaded, open the app, and follow the prompts to create an account using your @smc.edu email address.
  • Once you have created a Token Transit account, you will find your SMC mobile pass in your pass wallet.  This offer is a benefit of being an SMC employee and is non-transferrable.

Who do I contact if I have questions?
Contact the Sustainability Department at 310-434-3909 or sustainability@smc.edu for more information.

How much can I earn by commuting sustainably to SMC?
It depends on how often you commute sustainably vs drive alone or telecommute each month.

• $15 per month if you commute sustainably 30%-49% of the time.
• $25 per month if you commute sustainably 50%-74% of the time.
• $30 per month if you commute sustainably 75%-100% of the time.

Quarterly Prize Drawing: Employees who qualify for a Sustainable Transportation Incentive for three consecutive months within the fiscal year quarter will be entered in a Quarterly Prize Drawing for that quarter. The prize drawing will be a total of $200.00 in gift certificates, distributed among four prize winners ($50 each). Winners will be selected at random. Gift certificates will be facilitated and distributed by the Sustainability Center.

Which types of sustainable transportation qualify?
Sustainable modes of transportation include walking, skating, bicycling, scooters, mass transit, carpooling and vanpooling. Telecommuting is not considered eligible for the Sustainable Transportation Incentive Program.

Can I still submit a paper form?
No, only employees without access to a computer are allowed to submit a paper form. We request that whenever possible employees use the online form: commute.smc.edu

Do I have to enter the Santa Monica College information in the profile?
YES! You must use the commute.smc.edu link or enter Santa Monica College in your profile to be included in the electronic community and receive your incentive.

Does it matter which web browser I use?
Yes, the recommended web browser is Google Chrome.

Is supervisor signature required?
No, instead we will be doing a monthly audit of participants selected at random.

How do I submit my form?
SMC employees must log their commutes for the previous month by the 10th of the each month. Log ALL DAYS including Sick, Vacation and Telework (Work remotely) so that we are able to accurately mark your percentage of alternative transportation use. If you are an Adjunct Faculty member, please notify sustainability@smc.edu. If you are not scheduled to work, please select "not scheduled to work".

For those with a regular schedule, it’s easiest to do on the last day of the month. Make sure to set a calendar reminder to get it done before the 10th day of the next month or you will lose your incentive.

How do I see my monthly commute?
Select the days that you would like to view on the dashboard calendar, then click on the ‘History’ tab. This will show you your days logged as well as the modes and information you entered. This is a very useful view and can be used to view and edit past commutes.

What is SMC doing with this information?
This information is NOT being shared publicly. We are using portions of this information to process the alternative transportation incentive and inform SMC alternative transportation programs. You can view the detailed privacy agreement on the Commute SM website.

Why is SMC tracking employee commutes?
SMC is required by law to provide the South Coast Air Quality Management District with the College’s Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR). SMC’s target AVR is 1.5 persons per vehicle. In effort to achieve our target AVR and improve environmental performance, the College provides the alternative transportation incentive for employees regularly taking alternative transportation such as bus, bike, walking, or carpool.

Are EVs and motorcycles considered alternative transportation?
No, at this time EVs, scooters, and motorcycles are not considered alternative transportation and do not qualify for the incentive program. However, we will be reviewing the incentive structure and may include these modes in the future depending on the regional Air Quality Management District standards.

As a new employee, when do I become eligible to receive this benefit?
*If this is your first time participating in this program, please make sure you're eligible by answering the following questions to yourself:
1. Am I a probationary employee, permanent employee or a temporary employee? If temporary employee, you are not eligible.
2. Was my employment start date prior to the first date claimed on Corsair Commute? If yes, you are eligible.
3. Am I commuting 50% or more of the route to my SMC work-location by sustainable means (bike/walk/carpool/transit)? If yes, you are eligible.

Can I receive training on the new online system?
The system is easy to use and employees are encouraged to explore the system before requesting training. However, if you are having difficulty or have additional questions please contact the Sustainability Center at 310-434-3909 or sustainability@smc.edu for more information.

Where can I find out more info about the Alternative Transportation Incentive Program?
You can find out details on sustainable transportation on the SMC sustainability website: www.smc.edu/transportation. You can also contact the Sustainability Center at 310-434-3909 or sustainability@smc.edu for more information.

*Temporary employees can not receive this benefit but those who are still on probation can. To ensure eligibility for all, please inform us of your start date prior to submitting your first trip. 

For more information, see Alternative Transportation FAQ