How to Offer Metro's Newest Flexible Passes

Metrorail commuters can now purchase an unlimited monthly pass at a wide variety of price points through SelectPass. Riders whose one-way Metro fares typically cost between $2.25 and $4.00 can sign up for a SelectPass and receive unlimited rides for the price of 18 rides at their usual price point. Commuters may save up to 20% on their regular commute costs while getting additional trips for free.

What does this mean for commuters and employers enrolled in Metro’s SmartBenefits® program?

It takes just a few steps for commuters to use their benefits for a SelectPass. Traditionally, employers allocate most SmartBenefits funds to the "Transit" benefit category, which covers all standard Metrorail and bus fares. If an employee wishes to join the SelectPass program, the company's account administrator needs to change the employee's benefit type from “Transit” to “Transit Pass”.

The company’s SmartBenefits® account administrator should:

• Log into their SmartBenefits® employer account and visit Program Management.
• Create a new Benefit Category—or locate the existing category—for the requested dollar amount using the Transit Pass Rollover or Transit Pass Non-Rollover benefit type, depending on your organization’s policy.

Click here for more information

DDOT Announces Call for Nominations for Inaugural goDCgo Ambassador Awards

(Washington, DC) – The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) today announced that nominations are open for the 2017 goDCgo Ambassador Awards. This new program is designed to recognize District of Columbia organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to implementing commuter benefits and sustainable transportation programs for their employees.

“The goDCgo Ambassador Awards program is an opportunity to salute businesses in the District who are going above and beyond to assist employees’ in their commute, said Leif Dormsjo, DDOT Director. "Reducing single-occupancy vehicle use is key to helping us achieve the vision to make the District, in one generation, the healthiest, greenest and most livable city in the United States.”

There are five nomination categories: DC Commuter Benefits Law All Star, Bike-Friendly Workplace, Carpool/Vanpool Award, Telework/Flex/Alternative Schedule Award and Most Innovative Commuter Benefits Program.

All nominations must be received by Friday, February 3, 2017. Winners will be selected by a committee of transportation industry thought leaders and announced in March 2017.

To nominate a business or for more information on the goDCgo Ambassador Awards, please visit info.goDCgo.com/AmbassadorAwards.

ABRA Orientation Training

New and existing ABC licensees are invited to attend ABRA’s Orientation Training from 2-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2016 to learn about:

• District ABC laws and regulations (including recent changes to the law),
• Tips for working effectively with the community,
• Settlement Agreements,
• Expectations of licensees,
• Best practices, and
• Noise abatement and sound management.

Contact ABRA Community Resource Officer Sarah Fashbaugh by Friday, Jan. 20, 2016 to register:

Email or (202) 397-3971

Attendance for this class is strongly recommended for new license holders. Training is free of charge. Requests for interpreters may be made; however, they must be submitted by the registration deadline.

Training Location

2000 14th Street, NW
Suite 400 South, 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20009

Deadline to register for Inaugural Week is Jan. 9, 2017

The Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) is informing licensees that eligible restaurants, taverns, nightclubs, hotels and multipurpose facilities can register with ABRA to participate in extended hours during Inaugural Week.

Under the law, eligible on-premises establishments can apply to ABRA to sell and serve alcoholic beverages until 4 a.m. and operate 24 hours a day during Inaugural Week (§ 25-723), which is from Jan. 14-22, 2017 and includes two weekends.

In order to participate in Inaugural Week, a licensee must submit a registration form to ABRA along with a public safety plan by Monday, Jan. 9, 2017. The daily fee to register is as follows and is based on license class:

• $100 for a restaurant with a class C license (CR);
• $100 for a tavern with a class C license (CT); and
• $50 for all other on-premises license classes.

It is important to note that on-premises retailer licensees are only eligible to participate in the Inaugural Week extension of hours if the licensee does not have a settlement agreement that restricts closing hours.

In addition, a licensee would only be eligible to operate 24 hours a day as well as sell and serve alcohol until 4 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, occurring on Jan. 16, 2017, if the licensee is also registered to extend hours on Jan. 16, 2017 as part of Inaugural Week. The holiday is not included in the Extended Holiday Hours program.

Once a licensee is registered for Inaugural Week, ABRA will provide the licensee with an inaugural license, which must be posted in a visible location at the establishment for the nine-day period.

Under the law, an establishment's permitted hours of entertainment cannot be extended under an inaugural license. As a result, an establishment would need to obtain approval for a separate one-day substantial change application in order to extend entertainment hours. In addition, the law does not alter the two-hour kitchen requirement for restaurants. As such, restaurants serving alcoholic beverages until 4 a.m. will be required to serve food until 2 a.m.

Any licensee that does not want to participate in the extension of hours during Inaugural Week is not required to do so. Licensees that have questions regarding the registration process can contact ABRA’s Licensing Division by emailing or calling (202) 442-4423.

Complete Inaugural Week details are available on ABRA's website .

Get There on Time: Transportation Options During the Holidays

The holidays are a time of increased hustle and bustle as families visit the DC metro area to reunite with loved ones. Make it easy for them to spend time together by sharing the following holiday service schedules:

Capital Bikeshare: Open every day throughout the holiday season 24/7.

DC Circulator: Operates on a winter hours schedule, with buses every 10 minutes. Service is unavailable on Christmas Day.

Metrobus: Operates on Sunday Service Schedules on Christmas Day.

Metrorail: Operates on Sunday Service Schedules on Christmas Day.

If you or your guests need help navigating the city, challenge us with your or their commute. Send us the specifics of your trip and we'll tell you the best way(s) to get from A to B.