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NIH Staff Parking and Transportation Update

​​With the transition and return of NIH staff to in-person work, please read through these important details and join the upcoming virtual Lunch and Learn webinar on Wednesday, February 26, at 12 pm (noon) as a refresher to the process for obtaining parking permits and Transhare benefits.

Prior to returning, we recommended all employees check their NIH Enterprise Directory (NED) profile for accuracy. Please work with your Administrative Officer to ensure your duty station (work site, building and room number) are up to date, and your current status (non-remote) is correct. Once the information is correct, employees will be eligible to apply for transportation programs. Please note: modifications can take up to 24 hours to update before employees will see the options to enroll in available programs.

TRANSHARE

Due to the high volume of staff returning to campus and ongoing but necessary construction projects, parking is extremely limited. We encourage employees to take advantage of the NIH Transhare Program, a commuter subsidy initiative that allows qualified employees to receive up to $325 per month applicable to public transportation.

Transhare programs are available to eligible employees and enrollment is easy! Simply log in to the Commuting and Parking Services (CAPS) system and follow the prompts. Participating Transhare members are permitted to receive up to six (6) daily parking permits per calendar quarter in the event a member needs to drive to work unexpectedly.

Current Transhare members should log into the CAPS system to ensure their declaration cost is correct. The WMATA Trip Planner is a great tool to help determine commuting costs.

If you have not used your SmarTrip card in more than 30 days, it may be inoperable due to inactivity. We recommend employees tap their SmarTrip cards on a metro fare gate, a fare/pass vending machine, or a Metrobus SmarTrip target before returning to the physical workplace after a long absence. This will refresh the card for the SmartBenefits auto-load process. If unable to verify SmarTrip benefit before returning to the office, please note that personal funds are required for the initial trip as SmarTrip benefits are typically accessible 24-48 hours after the first trip.

CARPOOL/VANPOOL

NIH offers a free carpool matching service through the CAPS system. The NIH Rideshare program enables employees, contractors, fellows, guests and volunteers to find others interested in carpooling or establishing vanpools who live and work near them. The program will search based on distances from employees' home addresses and work locations. For those who join a vanpool, members can receive up to twelve (12) daily parking permits per calendar quarter. Other benefits of vanpool and carpool include:

  • Designated carpool parking spaces that are easily accessible until 11:00 a.m.
  • A reserved parking space for registered vanpools in a lot or garage of their choice
  • Access to HOV traffic lanes for carpools and vanpools
  • Qualification for the "Guaranteed Ride Home Program" sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
  • Monetary savings on gas, auto insurance and vehicle wear and tear!

Anyone interested in establishing a vanpool can contact nihparkingoffice@nih.gov for assistance.

For more information on Transhare, vanpools and carpools, please visit the Commuter Info website for educational webinars. Information and videos are uploaded regularly so add this page to your favorites!

PARKING PERMITS

Parking permits should be displayed at all times when parking on the Bethesda campus and at 6701 and 6705 Rockledge Drive. Any vehicle that does not have a valid permit risks receiving a parking ticket. Before returning to the office, check your permit to ensure it has not expired.

If your permit is lost, simply submit a “Report Lost Hanger" through the CAPS system. A new permit will be mailed to your home address, and a temporary 2-week permit will be emailed to you for immediate use. To apply or renew permits, visit the NIH Parking Permits site.  Parking options on the main campus can be found on the NIH Employee Access Map.

NIH SHUTTLES

The NIH Shuttles are a great option for traveling between the NIH on-campus buildings and the off-campus locations in Rockledge, Fishers Lane and the White Flint Tower. Please note: changes have been made to the shuttles so check for new names, routes and times. Visit the NIH Shuttle website for ongoing updates and information. Additionally, download the “AMC Shuttle for NIH" app on Apple or Android mobile devices to view live tracking of each shuttle.  

PARKING CHANGES AND ROAD CLOSURES

  • MLP-6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 have construction projects underway. These garages remain operational but with temporary but significant impacts to parking. 
  • Lots 41 and 42 now offer an express shuttle that takes employees directly to Building 10 South to accommodate overflow parking needs. 
  • For additional information on construction impacts, visit the traffic.nih.gov website or read this NIH Record article.
  • The entrance at Center Drive and Old Georgetown remains closed for construction of the new Surgery, Radiology and Laboratory Medicine (SRLM) wing of the Clinical Center.  

QUESTIONS

For questions about the NIH Transhare Program or parking-related matters, visit the Employee Transportation Services Office or email nihparkingoffice@nih.gov. 

For shuttle and general transportation information, visit the shuttle information website.

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