NORTH BETHESDA TRANSPORTATION CENTER at 301-770-8108

We’re pleased that you are considering the Super FareShare (SFS) transit subsidy matching program! Super FareShare will encourage your staff to take public transportation to work. You will be providing a valuable benefit to your employees who help reduce traffic congestion, and in turn you’ll be rewarded with improved recruiting and retention for your business. And you may be eligible for a 50% tax credit from the State of Maryland for your out-of-pocket costs!

The SFS Program has gotten even better - we have become fully integrated with the Washington Metro Area Transit Authorities (WMATA) SmartBenefits program. This new partnership makes the Super FareShare process even more streamlined - the subsidy can now be easily downloaded on to your employee's SmarTrip card!

Super FareShare is available only to businesses located in one of Montgomery County’s four Transportation Management Districts (TMD's). These TMD's are successfully operating in North Bethesda (which includes parts of North Bethesda, Bethesda, Rockville and Kensington), Friendship Heights, Silver Spring and Downtown Bethesda.

Contact the North Bethesda Transportation Center at 301-770-8108 or mdonegan@nbtmd.org today to find out how your company can take advantage of Super FareShare!

Benefits - What's In it for you?

The Benefits of Super FareShare are many whether you are an employer, employee -- even the community as a whole benefits!

Companies	Employees	Communities
Receive tax credits Increased Productivity Higher Morale Lower turnover Improved recruitment	Gain tax-free income Stress-free commutes No parking hassles Reduced vehicle wear Lower gas expenses	Reduced congestion Improved air quality Stronger local economies More vibrant downtowns A better quality of life

How it Works

The Super FareShare Program will match an employer’s monthly contribution toward employee transit or vanpool costs for nine years, with the first year virtually free (employer pays $1 per employee for up to $115 in transit passes each month). During subsequent years the County will match the employer contribution on a sliding percentage basis.

Year 1	$1 deal	County provides up to $114.00 per month per employee
Years 2 – 5	50 – 50 match	County provides up to $57.50 per month per employee
Year 6	60 – 40 match	County provides up to $46.00 per month per employee
Year 7	70 – 30 match	County provides up to $34.50 per month per employee
Year 8	80 – 20 match	County provides up to $23.00 per month per employee
Year 9	90 – 10 match	County provides up to $11.50 per month per employee

The purpose of Super FareShare is to encourage employers to continue to offer a transit benefit to their employees once the County’s contribution has ended.

Things to Remember

Your organization’s yearly subsidy limit is $30,000. If your company orders large quantities of fare media and hits the $30,000 limit, you must wait until the anniversary date of the following year to continue to receive your subsidy.
If your organization is a current or past participant in Montgomery County's regular FareShare program, the time you participated is deducted from your eligibility for Super FareShare (i.e., one year in regular FareShare reduces your participation in Super FareShare to eight years). Your organization's 'lifetime' participation in any fare subsidy program is nine years, or up to $270,000.
Metrocheks, Ride On fare passes and Ride On tokens are all available under this program. Metrocheks can be exchanged for all other types of fare media at exchange outlets listed in this packet. Metrocheks may be exchanged for MARC tickets at MARC stations that have ticket agents; Information on MARC ticket purchasing over the internet, by phone, or by mail can be found here.
The total available benefit is $115/month per employee. This is currently the maximum tax free benefit that an employer can provide to an employee under Federal law.
Under Federal law, each employee may receive no more than their actual transit cost per month, for their own commute. Your organization should monitor the program internally for appropriate use of the fare passes by using the “Employer-Paid Benefit Program Certification of Fringe Benefits” form included below under 'Resources/Downloads'.

Getting Started

You need the forms listed below to get started with Super FareShare. For a quick start please contact Mirza Donegan at 301-770-8108 or mdonegan@nbtmd.org.

Super FareShare Employer Application
WMATA Smartbenefits Application
(Fill out these forms using Adobe Acrobat 6.0.2 or later. Need an Upgrade?)
1st Order Tally Worksheet - These are spreadsheets that you can fill out to organize your first order.

What is SmartBenefits?

SmartBenefits is a web-based program that lets employers load the dollar value of an employee's Metrochek commuter benefit directly on his or her SmarTrip card for use on Metrorail. Employees take their permanent, plastic, electronic SmarTrip card to any Metro station's Passes/Farecards machine between the first and last day of the benefit month to claim their benefit. For more information on SmarTrip cards, please visit Metro's website.

Once the benefit has been loaded onto a SmarTrip card, it can be used for Metrorail, Metrobus and all local buses, some commuter buses and parking at Metrorail stations.

IMPORTANT - Until the SmarTrip program has been completely implemented, the following modes of transit cannot accept the SmarTrip card:

MARC and VRE Trains
Dillons, Keller and Eyre Commuter Buses

If you commute with any of these, you will need to continue receiving paper metrocheks. These organizations are in the process of adopting the SmarTrip program, please check Metro's website for updates.

How do Super FareShare and SmartBenefits Work Together?

When an employer in Montgomery County provides a transit subsidy through SmartBenefits, the county pays WMATA for the County share and the employer share.
The employer then reimburses the County for their portion of the payment.

Resources/Downloads

Metrochek Exchange / Information Resources – a list of sites in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia where employees may exchange Metrocheks for other fare media.

Employer-Paid Benefit Program Certification of Fringe Benefits - for your company records.

Maryland’s Commuter Tax Credit Program

Order Forms

Year 1 Order Form

Years 2 – 5 Order Form

Montgomery County Super FareShare/SmartBenefits Forms (Both to be filled out monthly)

Employer Worksheet (Sample Worksheet)

ACH/Credit Card Payment Authorization Form

Fare Media Delivery Rules

Fare media orders are sent within 2 weeks of receipt. Orders of less than $100 are mailed. Orders of more than $100 are delivered by courier on the following schedule:

Monday & Thursday – Bethesda / Rock Spring Park / Friendship Heights
Tuesday – Silver Spring
Wednesday – North Bethesda / Rockville / Kensington
Friday – No Deliveries

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “fare media” mean?
Fare Media are tickets, tokens and passes used to ride transit. This is what your company buys through the program.
What if I hire additional employees who want to participate?
If you hire new employees after your first order, you can add them at a pro-rated amount. For example, if you have been in the program for two months, you can order 10 months of fare media and pay $10 for that employee to participate for the rest of the first year.
What if a participating employee leaves?
You would adjust your subsequent order by ordering less fare media.
Do all my employees have to participate?
No, you can join with just one employee.
Who already participates in the SFS program?
Click here for a list of companies already enrolled in the SFS program.
Can we use email?
You can email your yearly order form and the monthly SFS/SmartBenefits worksheet to mdonegan@nbtmd.org.
-Any form that requires a signature would need to be scanned in before emailing.
-You can always fax your forms to 301-770-8105.
How can my company take advantage of the 50% State tax credit?
Enrolling in the program is simple and should be discussed with your tax advisor. Click here for more information.

Still Not Sure? Have Questions? Feel free to call your NBTMD SFS Representative
Mirza Donegan at 301-770-8108 or mdonegan@nbtmd.org

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