First, I would like to thank all the lovely teachers and staff who work to make Arlington Public Schools (APS) a wonderful environment for students to learn and grow. As an APS alum myself, I am eternally grateful to all the mentors, educators, and administrators who helped me become a more knowledgeable and compassionate individual. Today, I feel honored to return the favor and impart what I have learned to help APS teachers and staff commute with ease and take advantage of their transportation benefits, so they can show up every day for their students.
What is in the Guide?
Our newly updated APS Transportation Benefits Guide has everything you need to know about the transportation benefits APS offers and how to access them.
APS Employee Benefits
As an APS employee, you can take advantage of a monthly stipend for transit, carpooling, walking, and biking. Instructions on how to enroll in and certify your commuter benefit are included in the guide.
Through CareFirst, APS employees can also allocate up to $300 per month in pre-tax income towards a Transit Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Your Transit FSA can be used to pay for your commute on public transit.
Benefits for Biking and Walking
Arlington Public Schools offers all employees a free annual Capital Bikeshare membership. The APS Transportation Benefits Guide has all the information you need to access your free membership and start riding! In the guide, you can also find helpful resources and information for biking, like how to best secure your bike and where to find maps to help you plan your route. Utilizing BikeArlington’s updated Bike Comfort Map, you can plan your route and commute safely along marked streets and trails. Arlington Transportation Partners can also help your school celebrate Bike to Work Day, Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day, or even host a custom commuting event for employees!
Since Arlington is a Platinum Level Walk Friendly Community, there has never been a better time to explore on foot with fellow staff, students, and administrators. The guide shares information from WalkArlington to help you navigate from your neighborhood, or your school’s neighborhood, to just about anywhere in Arlington on foot.
Share The Ride
Our guide breaks down how APS employees can save money and time by choosing to carpool or vanpool to work. Carpoolers will receive a subsidy based on the number of passengers – the more the merrier! Vanpoolers can use their Transit FSA to pay for their commute. Both options will save you time by commuting toll free in HOV lanes.
Guaranteed Ride Home Program
The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program is free to participate in and can make your car-free commute more reliable. If you commute at least twice a week by any means that is not driving alone, you are eligible to register. The program offers registrants up to six free rides a year! If you or your child feel ill during the day or it starts raining right before your bike ride home, GRH is only one call away to get you home safe and keep you out of the elements.
Transit Options and Helpful Apps
The APS Transportation Benefits Guide has everything you need to explore transit options in Arlington. You will find a list of transit providers that operate in Arlington, including accessible transit services. We have also listed our favorite navigation apps and other helpful apps for micro-mobility options, like Capital Bikeshare or dockless e-scooters.
Host ATP at Your School
APS employees can commute with confidence knowing they are taking advantage of the transportation benefits available to them and saving money. ATP also collaborates with individual schools to host events and can assist with implementing effective commuting solutions.
Photo Credit: Sam Kittner/kittner.com for Arlington Transportation Partners