HUCTW COVID-19 Pandemic Transportation Fund

Fund Guidelines

As the pandemic upended University operations and members’ lives, a subset of HUCTW members who continued to work on campus experienced greatly increased transportation expenses. While most members saw reduced commuting expenses during remote work, many of those who were required to work on campus saw very large increases that were impossible to anticipate. Before COVID the vast majority of HUCTW members used public transportation to commute to work, and then a large portion of members switched to driving and using rideshares to help keep themselves and the whole Harvard community safer by avoiding potential exposure on busses and trains.

In light of this situation, HUCTW created a special limited COVID-19 relief Transportation Fund reimbursement opportunity for members who have experienced significant increases in commuting expenses due to the pandemic. This was the second and final round of Covid-19 Pandemic Transportation Funding meaning that members should not expect this resource to be available in the future. Reimbursement amounts will be based on each eligible applicant’s documented expenses and on the income-based percentages in the grid below. If the budget allows, these percentages will be increased by the Fund Administrators during processing. All awards will be capped at a maximum of $200/month. 

For questions please do contact us at huctw.transportation@huctw.org or leave a voicemail for us at 617-661-8289. 

Who is eligible?

HUCTW bargaining unit members required to work on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic who experienced increases in commuting expenses as a result of changing commute modes to avoid potential exposure. Members were able submit expenses incurred January 1 – July 31, 2021.

Application deadline

Harvard-HUCTW COVID-19 Pandemic Transportation Fund applications were due Monday, August 16, 2021.

Eligible expenses

• Parking in the Longwood Medical Area (unless already receiving a regular Transportation Fund award)
• Rideshares in some circumstances
  • Rideshares will only be considered eligible if driving and parking is not possible or costs even more than rideshares do for a particular individual’s circumstances. In your application, please explain why rideshares are the best, most cost effective, or only available option.
  • Examples of eligible rideshares include:
    • A member who is not able to drive may submit rideshare expenses in lieu of parking expenses.
    • A member who can demonstrate that using rideshares costs less than driving and parking may submit rideshare expenses in lieu of parking expenses. This may be the case for some members who live relatively close to their campus work locations.

Ineligible

• Members who already qualified for the HUCTW Transportation Fund separate and apart from COVID changes to commute modes
• Harvard Cambridge/Allston parking (See COVID-19 reduced rates)
• Members who voluntarily opted into working on campus but weren’t required to do so
• Gas and tolls

Income Tiers and Award Amounts