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Smith's Opt-Out Program pays eligible employees
to travel to and from work without driving a single-occupant (SOV) vehicle, an initiative
to help ease the parking demand on campus. The Opt-Out Program is a voluntary program
to encourage faculty and staff to find alternate ways to commute, such as car-pooling,
ridesharing, bicycling, walking and public transit.
Terms of the Program
The college offers a two-tiered
payment system. Under the terms of the program, employees receive an Opt-Out payment
of $150 per year for choosing to leave their car at home and live within a one mile
radius from the center of campus. For those living outside of the one-mile radius,
a payment of $400 will be given. Participants will also be provided with free passes
that will allow 18 days of campus parking each year for those days when a car is
needed.
Who is eligible to join the Opt-Out Program?
Smith
College faculty and staff who own a car are eligible to join the Opt-Out Program.
How does the program work? By joining the Opt-Out Program, you are agreeing to not
bring your vehicle to Smith or surrounding streets between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday (you may park on campus at any other time). Smith will pay you $150
or $400 for full participation in the program. Buying a decal is not required. Members
of the Smith community who live within the one mile radius of campus and are in the
Opt-Out Program may park their vehicles in their driveways or directly in front of
their houses. Parking at parking meters is allowed. Parking anywhere else will be
considered a violation of the Opt-Out Program. All rules apply to second and third-shift
employees as well.
When can I join
the program?
There are two periods for signing up: First semester, July 1 through
September 15 or second semester, December 15 through February 1. Note: Participation
for only half the year will result in a $75/$200 payment.
What do I need to do to
join the program?
You will need to register your vehicle in person at the Campus
Police Parking Office. You will be issued up to 18 free parking passes and an opt-out
decal which you must affix to your car window. Forms are available on our website
and in the office.
When and how do I get my payment of $150/$400?
Once
a faculty or staff member joins the Opt-Out Program, the payment will be processed
by the Controller’s Office and will be included in the next available pay period
after each sign-up period ends. You will be paid in two installments of $75/$200.
The net amount will appear on the top part of your pay stub.
What if I need to bring
my car to Smith?
Each member of the Opt-Out Program will
receive up to eighteen (18) One-Day Parking Passes. These passes are issued for the
current fiscal year and are not transferable to the following fiscal year. If you
request less than 18 passes at the time of your registration and then need more at
a later date, you can come to the Campus Police Parking Office to receive additional
passes.
What if I need an emergency ride home?
Smith also participates
in the MassRIDES Emergency Ride Home Program. Situations that are considered "emergencies" by
the ERH program include:
- unexpected personal illness / emergency
- unexpected family
illness / emergency
- unscheduled overtime at supervisor’s request
- carpool/vanpool
driver has emergency / unexpected overtime
To register for the ERH program or obtain
more information go to the MassRIDES Web site, www.commute.com.
What if I park
my car on the streets near Smith?
Smith will check the streets around the campus
and the campus proper to determine if there are Opt-Out cars parked illegally.
- 1st
violation: you will receive a written warning from the Parking Office.
- 2nd violation:
your Opt-Out Program membership will be deactivated. You must then purchase a Smith
parking decal at normal price, and will be unable to participate in the Opt-Out
Program for one full academic year. (This means that your membership will be terminated
for the remainder of the academic year, plus one full academic year). Program members
are responsible for removing their Opt-Out decal and reimbursing Smith through
payroll deduction for the remainder of the year according to the established reimbursement
schedule.
Reimbursement schedule is as follows:
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July |
$64.29/171.43 |
January |
$64.29/171.43 |
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August |
$53.58/142.86 |
February |
$53.58/142.86 |
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September |
$42.87/114.29 |
March |
$42.87/114.29 |
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October |
$32.16/85.72 |
April |
$32.16/85.72 |
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November |
$21.45/57.15 |
May |
$21.45/57.15 |
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December |
$10.74/28.58 |
June |
$10.74/28.58 |
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What are some of the options that I can use
to be considered a commuter in order to participate in the Opt-Out Program?
- Carpool
- PVTA Service
- Park and Ride Lots
- Zipcars
- Bicycles
- Walking
What if I am a member of a carpool?
Carpool members are eligible to participate in the Opt-Out Program. The carpool group
should decide how it will distribute the money to members within the group. The owner
of the vehicle to be driven to Smith is not eligible for the Opt-Out Program; however,
each employee riding with him or her would be eligible for $400 and would not have
to buy a decal. For example, if three employees wished to participate, one would
buy a carpool decal for $10 and the other two would get $400 each as members of the
Opt-Out Program -- with a net savings of $940, which can be divided among the three
carpooling employees. Carpooling will save fuel, wear and tear, and be part of Smith’s
sustainability initiative.
MassRIDES, a service of the Massachusetts Department
of Transportation (MassDOT), also offers a NuRide program to find people going your
way and at the same time earn reward points each time you take a ‘green trip’ (like
transit, bicycling, walking, or carpooling). Then, redeem those points for rewards
like local and national restaurant coupons, retailer discounts and tickets to shows
and attractions. To sign up, go to www.commute.com/NuRide. Carpoolers, opt-outers,
bicyclists and PVTA riders can also take advantage of MassRIDES Emergency Ride Home
(ERH) Program. For more information contact MassRIDES by calling 888-426-6688 (888-4COMMUTE)
or visit their Web site at www.commute.com.
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