50% Transit Subsidy

"The best part of my commute is the quiet time that I enjoy where I listen to music and mentally prepare for the day."

NICOLE BARKLEY, OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Get started with the 50% Transit Subsidy program

Eligibility requirements

All benefits-eligible faculty, staff, or full-time graduate students without a campus housing assignment.
Take a train, bus, subway, or a combination of transit services in lieu of an annual parking permit to reach Princeton's campus or University-affiliated facilities for work or study.
Home address on file with the University matches transit commute requested for reimbursement.

Commuter benefits

50% reimbursement on monthly transit purchases up to a maximum of $375 in reimbursements per commute month (Academic Year 2024-2025).
- To receive your reimbursements after enrolling in the benefit, submit the Mass Transit Subsidy request form and include copies of your receipts.
- Eligible transit purchases made starting the same month as enrollment will be eligible for reimbursement. Subsidy requests must be made within 90 days of purchase.
- You do not need to submit monthly to stay active in the program. We know schedules change especially around the end of the semester or over the summer.
Access to up to 24 daily parking passes and 4 guaranteed rides home throughout the year for added commute flexibility. Learn more.

Your reimbursement options

Reimbursements are only available after application and approval.

Please review the following information carefully for details on what tickets are eligible for reimbursement. Failure to comply may result in a delay or rejection of your reimbursement request.

More flexible purchasing options with Inspira

The Inspira order reimbursement option allows Transportation and Parking Services to process your 50% transit subsidy using your monthly transit order value from the Inspira pre-tax ordering portal, without the need to submit your receipts.

What is the pre-tax transit benefit?

The Inspira portal provides access to a federal tax benefit that allows employees to have their monthly commuting costs deducted from their pay before taxes are applied (e.g., income tax withholding, social security and Medicare taxes, unemployment tax). Funds must be used for commute needs and subject to audit. This benefit is managed by Princeton's HR Benefits team. Learn more about the benefit on the HR website.

What orders are eligible for reimbursement?

Gain more purchasing options than the ticket types listed below. Order transit passes or add value to your Commuter MasterCard and buy tickets as needed.

Recommended Inspira Transit products

Commuter Prepaid Mastercard: A reloadable card funded monthly based on your Inspira orders. Can be used for online/app or digital wallet purchases, and at fare machines or retail centers in the region. Purchase individual tickets, transit passes, or be added to your digital wallet for tap2pay fares.
Transit Pass
Purchase multiple items such as train passes and transit cards (i.e., MetroCard or SEPTA Key) from regional transit authorities. Receive a home or digital delivery of your order before the first of the month.

How do I place an Inspira order?

Place an order by the 10th of the month for your next month's commute.

Set up an account with Inspira Financial (first time users only). Click the yellow "Create Profile" button on the right of the Inspira Login page and complete the fields to create an account. In order to register, you will need your unique benefit ID number which can be found in HR Self Service under Benefit Details. Your University credentials are not linked to this portal.
From the side menu in the Commuter Portal dashboard, select ‘Place an Order’.
Select your preferred transportation methods, for example, ‘Train’, and click ‘Next’.
Enter your home and work zip codes, then click ‘Next’.
Select your product or transit authority from the list of options.
Enter your order details and set your recurring order preferences. When finished, click ‘Next’.
View your cart, and click ‘Proceed to Checkout’.
Review your order. If everything is correct, click ‘Place Order’.
A confirmation will display that your order has been placed. This order is now pending. You will be able to edit your next order until after the 10th of the month order deadline.

Can I only place an order up to the monthly pre-tax limit?

Pre-tax limit to be increased to $325 starting January 2025.

Your orders are not limited by the pre-tax limit. The cost of your order under the current pre-tax limit will be deducted from your paycheck. Your remaining balance will be charged to your credit card on file.

Your monthly order will then be reimbursed 50% up to $375 with the next scheduled reimbursements. TPS reserves the right to audit monthly Inspira purchases to ensure reimbursements are supporting commutes between an employee's home and campus.

Have additional questions?

Check out additional Inspira resources:

Reach out for assistance:

Inspira pre-tax commuter benefits or your Inspira account: Benefits
Your 50% transit reimbursement: The Service Point

OR submit eligible receipts

Please see below list of all eligible ticket options eligible for receipt-based reimbursement. Individual one-way tickets and Tap2Pay payment records are not eligible. A reimbursement of up to $375 per commute month, assuming a $750 up-front cost, will be applied directly to your paycheck or stipend.

Transit Provider	Accepted Purchases	Ineligible Purchases
New Jersey Transit (rail/bus/light rail)⁽¹⁾	Monthly Pass 10-packs (max two receipts per monthly commute) Minimum of 4 round-trips or 8 one-ways purchased in bulk as a single receipt (max two receipts per monthly commute)	Individual one-way tickets Individual round-trip tickets Receipts for less than 4 round-trip or 8 one-way tickets
SEPTA⁽¹⁾	Monthly Pass Up to two SEPTA Key fare additions per monthly commute, with a maximum total value of $165.	Individual Tap2Pay SEPTA Key expenses Card replacements
MTA Subway/Bus⁽¹⁾	30-Day Pass (MetroCard kiosk) Up to two OMNY Card fare additions per monthly commute, with a maximum total value of $136.	Individual Tap2Pay OMNY purchases Card replacements
MTA LIRR (Long Island Rail) and Metro-North⁽¹⁾	Monthly Pass Ten-Trip Peak/Off-Peak (max two receipts per monthly commute)
PATH Train⁽¹⁾	30 Day Pass 10 or 20 Trip SmartLink (max two receipts per monthly commute)	Individual Tap2Pay purchases
NYC Ferry⁽¹⁾	10-pack pass	One-way tickets
CoachUSA/Suburban Transit	Minimum of 4 round-trips or 8 one-ways purchased in bulk as a single receipt (max two receipts per monthly commute) 10 or 20 trip pack (max two receipts per monthly commute) Monthly pass (only sold for trips starting or ending in New York City)	Individual one-way tickets Individual round-trip tickets Receipts for less than 4 round-trip or 8 one-way tickets
Amtrak⁽¹⁾	30 Day Pass 10-ride passes (max two receipts per monthly commute)	One-way or round-trip tickets* * Accepted using Inspira order option (see above)
WMATA⁽¹⁾ (requires department approval)	Monthly pass Fare add for 10+ rides on SmartTrip (max two receipts per monthly commute)	Individual Tap2Pay purchases Card replacements

⁽¹⁾Discounts available for senior citizens and/or customers with disabilities. Please check the transit agency’s website for details.

If you use a transit provider not on this list for your commute to Princeton's campus or another official University office location, please contact The Service Point for consideration.

Ready to Revise Your Ride?

Princeton's campus is highly accessible by public transit. Take the train, bus, subway, or a combination of transit services and be reimbursed 50% of your monthly transit costs in lieu of an annual parking permit.

Apply Now

Is your office not connected by transit?

Employees in offices without direct transit options to/from Princeton Junction (Canal Pointe, Forrestal, PPPL) looking to enroll in the RYR 50% transit subsidy also qualify for a Lyft pass offering a limited number of fully subsidized rides to/from Princeton Junction.

Opting into this service can be done through the Revise Your Ride 50% Transit subsidy application. Once enrolled, please expect a separate Lyft Pass activation email with instructions to follow in order to book subsidized rides directly from the Lyft app to and from Princeton Junction and your workplace.

Do I owe taxes on Revise Your Ride subsidies?

Revise Your Ride transit subsidies are paid out directly through University payroll. Subsidies are considered taxable income and are subject to federal and state income taxes. Income tax will be withheld automatically on your paycheck or stipend.

Local Movement, Global Impact

The University is committed to achieving carbon neutrality for all campus emissions by 2046 as well as support sustainable action at all scales, from personal to global.

In New Jersey, more than 40% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector, with significant climate and human health implications, particularly for overburdened communities. Through Revise Your Ride and the Campus Mobility Framework, the University looks to double the percentage of alternative commuters and expand the use of campus as an incubator for lifelong sustainable transportation habits.

Check on our progress