RideGreen Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Your Commuter Benefits

The RideGreen Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) contains more detailed information to help you troubleshoot or learn more about your commuter benefits.

Click on a question to see the answer, or Open All Questions.

SMART Passes and Clipper Cards

• How is a SMART pass obtained?

  All SMART passes are loaded onto a Clipper Card. Employees can obtain a free Clipper Card by emailing RideGreen or by purchasing a Clipper Card on their own by going to www.clippercard.com or an authorized Clipper retailer. Senior discount Clipper cards are available only through the Clipper discount program. Clipper Cards must be obtained prior to placing an order with Optum Financial.
  IMPORTANT: In order for a SMART pass order to be loaded onto Clipper Card, the 10-digit serial number on the back of the Clipper Card must be entered during the ordering process with Optum Financial.

• How do I register my SMART pass?

  Employees must ensure their card is registered with Optum Financial by entering the 10-digit serial number when placing an order with Optum Financial.
  IMPORTANT: Registering your card ensures that funds will be loaded onto your SMART pass correctly.

• What happens if my SMART pass is lost or stolen?

  Employees must obtain a replacement card on their own AND contact Optum Financial customer support at 1-877-292-4040 so Optum Financial can transfer the funds from the old card to the new card. The transfer takes 24-48 hours after contacting Optum Financial.

• If my SMART pass does not work, who do I contact?

  Employees should first contact Clipper at 1-877-878-8883 to confirm that their card is registered and active. Once Clipper confirms the card is registered and active, employees should then contact Optum Financial at 1-877-292-4040 to notify them of the issue and confirm the card is registered with Optum Financial correctly. Employees must contact Optum Financial as soon as possible to report any issue with their card.

• How do I register my SMART pass?

  Employees must ensure their card is registered with Optum Financial by entering the 10-digit serial number when placing an order in the Optum Financial Commuter Benefits portal.
  IMPORTANT: Registering your card ensures that funds will be loaded onto your SMART pass correctly.

• Can I get a refund if my SMART pass is lost, stolen, or not working?

  Refunds are not provided for lost, stolen or improperly registered cards. Out of pocket expenses incurred during the replacement process are NOT covered.

• Are there any additional fees not included in the cost of a SMART pass?

  Yes. There is a $2 processing fee for funds loaded onto the Clipper Card. New cards cost $3. Employees can obtain a FREE card from RideGreen when available.

Pre-Tax Transportation Benefits

• What is the Pre-Tax Transportation Benefit?

  The Pre-Tax Transportation Benefit is a federal tax benefit authorized under the Internal Revenue Code Section 132(a). The benefit allows you to contribute a maximum of $315/month pre-tax towards public transportation costs (buses, trains, ferries), and an additional $315/month for parking at transit centers or transfer stops.

• What is the Transit Match?

  The Transit Match is a dollar for dollar match up to $60/month pre-tax contributed by the County. The match only applies when you set aside pre-tax dollars towards public transportation costs. It does not apply when you set aside pre-tax dollars for parking at transit centers or transfer stops. 

• How do I elect my transportation benefit and use the Transit Match?

  Use your online Optum Financial account to use your transportation benefit to purchase transit passes or load your Clipper Card. The Transit Match will automatically be applied upon checkout. Please use the comprehensive Optum Financial Commuter Benefits Instructions for guidance on how to use your online account.

• Is there a limited period for making transportation benefits elections like the Open Enrollment Period?

  The Transportation Benefit on Optum Financial is open at all times throughout the year for you to make changes to your transportation benefits or to change your transit orders. You can sign on throughout the year to make changes. You can also set recurring orders if you prefer to have your orders placed automatically each month. Please refer to the Optum Financial Commuter Benefits Instructions.

• What parking costs are covered by the Pre-Tax Transportation Benefit?

  You are able to set aside an additional $315/month pre-tax only towards parking where you take transit. The benefit is restricted to transit centers and business entities that indicate their core business function is to "provide parking".

• What type of employee is eligible to receive the Pre-Tax Transportation Benefits and to participate in all other RideGreen Incentive Programs?

  Benefits-eligible employees are entitled to receive the Pre-Tax Transportation Benefit and all other RideGreen Incentive Programs. Benefits eligible employees include: regular-hire full-time and part-time employees working half time or more who are provided with an allowance that can be used to purchase health benefits including medical, dental, vision, as well as life and long term disability insurance. However, benefits-eligible employees participating in RideGreen are not allowed to use any of the RideGreen program channels for their dependents' transportation expenses. For more information on benefits eligibility, visit: our Benefits page.

• How much pre-tax money am I allowed to contribute towards transportation purchases?

  You are allowed to contribute a maximum amount of $315/month pre-tax towards transportation purchases elected on your Optum Financial account. Moreover, you are able to contribute an additional maximum amount of $315/month pre-tax towards parking at transit centers or transfer stops. Any amount you use towards your transportation purchases exceeding $315/month or transit parking expenses exceeding $315/month will be subject to tax.

• What can I purchase using my Pre-Tax Benefit?

  Qualifying expenses using your Pre-Tax Benefit include transit media fare (i.e. tickets, passes, electronic tickets & passes, etc.), work-related parking, Commuter Check Vouchers, and Commuter Check Prepaid MasterCards.

• When will transit deductions be reflected on my paycheck?

  Payroll applies transit deductions from Optum Financial orders on the first payroll check of each month, based upon the order from the previous month. For example, an employee paycheck dated March 6, 2020, would include any transit orders from January 11, 2020, through February 10, 2020. Every effort is made to adhere to this schedule.

• What are Commuter Check Vouchers and Commuter Check Prepaid MasterCards?

  A Commuter Check Voucher is a check with a preset amount of money that is redeemable at participating locations only.

  A Commuter check Prepaid MasterCard is a re-loadable MasterCard that can be loaded with your choice amount using your Optum Financial account.

  For more detailed instructions on how to purchase these forms of payment for transit, refer to the Optum Financial Commuter Benefits Instructions.

Carpool/Bike/Walk Incentive Program Channel

• What is the Carpool/Bike/Walk Incentive?

  Employees can receive $360 every 6 months if you carpool, bike and/or walk to work 40 days during the reporting period. Participants are required to track their carpool/bike/walk trips to and from work in the Marin Commutes Trip Tracker.

• Can I combine my Carpool Incentive with my Pre-Tax Payroll Transportation Benefit?

  Incentives cannot be combined. The maximum commute alternative benefit available to employees is $60/month regardless of incentive channel.

• Is the Carpool/Bike/Walk Incentive a pre-tax program?

  Carpooling and biking are not included in the federal Pre-Tax Transportation Benefits program. The County is committed to supporting carpooling and biking; therefore, the incentive is a direct contribution from the County and is taxable.

• How many people do you need for a carpool?

  In order to receive the carpool reimbursement incentive, a County of Marin employee must participate in a carpool that consists of at least 1 County of Marin employee plus another County or non-County employee traveling between one's home and place of work, and whereby the County of Marin employee's commute ends at a County office or facility. In order to qualify for preferred parking at the Civic Center or Health and Wellness center all carpool members must be registered. In addition to RideGreen program rules, please adhere to all highway rules regarding HOV lanes and carpools.

• Do I have to be just a driver or just a passenger in a carpool to receive the carpool reimbursement incentive?

  You can be either a driver or a passenger, and can switch between both throughout the month to receive the carpool reimbursement incentive.

• If our carpool had to split up and use two cars with at least 2 carpoolers each, can we both use our carpool placards that share the same number?

  Two placards sharing the same placard number cannot be used at the same time. Employees can adjust their carpools and register for carpools at any time. In this case, if the carpool is large enough to split into two carpool groups, the employees may register for a new carpool.

For more questions, please contact the RideGreen Program.

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