Allocate Your MTBP Benefits

The word 'Allocate' on a medium blue background

The transportation providers listed below accept SmartBenefits®, but do not have SmarTrip® card readers installed for direct use. Metro has a Passenger Allocation Account tool to pay these companies with employer provided SmartBenefits®. Please follow the instructions below to establish your allocation. Failure to complete the allocation step will cause your benefits to be sent directly to your SmarTrip® card for Metro Rail/bus use. This step must be completed by the stated deadlines in the month prior to benefit delivery.

Important: Establishing a SmartBenefits allocation to a 3rd-party provider requires that you are:
a. fully enrolled as a DoD Mass Transit Benefit participant and;
b. have entered a claim for the upcoming benefits delivery month.
You can only allocate SmartBenefits funding once fully enrolled and funded and a claim in place for the benefit month.

 

 

Once your benefit allocation has been set, future claims submitted will be directed from your card to your assigned 3rd party vendor. Please note:

  1. If you link a new SmarTrip® card to your MTBP account, you will need to update your allocation account with your 3rd party vendor. This is a time sensitive update.
  2. Should your costs increase, it is your responsibility to manage the funding levels in BOTH your MTBP account AND your 3rd party vendor allocation.  These are two separate actions.

 

Deadlines

Allocations for MARC, VRE, Dillon's, Keller, and Eyre must be set up by the 15th of the month prior to benefit delivery.

Allocations for all other transit providers, including Vanpools, must be set by the 21st in the month prior to the benefit delivery.

Benefits cannot be moved from the card to a 3rd party company within a current month.

 

Before You Allocate

Before you can allocate your benefits, remember to Submit a claim  - this makes benefits available to your SmarTrip® card (you must do this each month).
No Claim = No Benefits

 

Riders of MARC
  1. You must first create an account with CommuterDirect.com to automatically move your benefit, or a portion of your benefit, from your SmarTrip® card to CommuterDirect each month (you only need to do this step once).
  2. Receive your pass in the mail each month or arrange to pick it up at a Commuter Store location.

Allocation Deadline is the 15th of the month prior to benefit delivery.

Contact:
CommuterDirect.com
703-228-7433 or
questions@CommuterDirect.com

 

Riders of VRE
Option 1: CommuterDirect.com
  1. You must first create an account with CommuterDirect.com to automatically move your benefit, or a portion of your benefit, from your SmarTrip® card to CommuterDirect each month (you only need to do this step once).
  2. Receive your pass in the mail each month or arrange to pick it up at a Commuter Store location.

Allocation Deadline is the 15th of the month prior to benefit delivery.

Contact:
CommuterDirect.com
703-228-7433 or
questions@CommuterDirect.com


Option 2: VRE Mobile
  1. You must create an allocation to VRE Mobile to automatically move your benefit, or a portion of your benefit, from your SmarTrip® card to your VRE Mobile account each month (you only need to do this step once).

Allocation Deadline is the 21st of the month prior to benefit delivery

 

Riders of MTA Commuter Buses: Dillon's Bus, Keller Bus, Eyre Bus (Maryland routes)
Option 1: CommuterDirect.com
  1. You must first create an account with CommuterDirect.com to automatically move your benefit, or a portion of your benefit, from your SmarTrip® card to CommuterDirect each month (you only need to do this step once).
  2. Receive your pass in the mail each month or arrange to pick it up at a Commuter Store location.

Allocation Deadline is the 15th of the month prior to benefit delivery.

Contact:
MTA Commuter Direct at 410-967-2212 or
questions@CommuterDirect.com


Option 2: MTA CharmPass
  1. You must download the MTA mobile app and allocate your SmartBenefits to MTA Mobile in your metro allocation account.

Allocation Deadline is the 21st of the month prior to benefit delivery.

 

Riders of Vanpools
  1. You must first create an account with WMATA SmartBenefits® Passenger Allocation System to automatically move your benefit, or a portion of your benefit, from your SmarTrip® card to your Vanpool provider each month (you only need to do this step once).
  2. Ask your Vanpool provider for specific information to identify your Vanpool in the allocation.
  3. Benefits will be delivered directly to the Vanpool’s account on the first of the month.

Allocation Deadline is the 21st of the month prior to benefit delivery.

Contact:
SmarTrip® Customer Service 888-762-7874 or
smartrip@wmata.com

 

Riders of MetroAccess
  1. You must first create an account with WMATA SmartBenefits Passenger Allocation System to automatically move your benefit, or a portion of your benefit, from your SmarTrip® card to your Metro Access account each month (you only need to do this step once).
  2. Manage your SmartBenefits® utilizing MetroAccess EZ-Pay.

Allocation Deadline is the 21st of the month prior to benefit delivery.

Additional MetroAccess Information

Contact:
MetroAccess 301-562-5360

 

Riders of Amtrak
  1. You must first create an account with WMATA SmartBenefits® Passenger Allocation System to automatically move your benefit, or a portion of your benefit, from your SmarTrip® card to CommuterDirect.com each month (you only need to do this step once).
  2. Create an account with CommuterDirect.com to automatically move your benefit, or a portion of your benefit, from your SmarTrip® card to CommuterDirect.com each month for VOUCHER purchase (you only need to do this step once).
  3. Call CommuterDirect.com and ask for assistance to establish a VOUCHER order and mailing for AMTRAK.
  4. Take your VOUCHERS to Union Station. You may only exchange vouchers at Union Station to purchase AMTRAK tickets. Note: AMTRAK will not sell one-way tickets. Your minimum ticket purchase will be a 10-ride. This should be consistent with the monthly ticket price entry on your DoD MTBP application expense worksheet and your metro allocation amount to CommuterDirect.com.

Contact:
CommuterDirect.com
703-228-7433

Contact:
MTBP Program Office 571-256-0962 or
WHSNCRTransitBenefit@mail.mil

 

* The "Allocate" step is only required if the transportation provider does not use SmarTrip® card readers.