Local Travel Policy

Number: 5770.1B OAS
Status: Active
Signature Date: 07/22/2025
Expiration Date: 07/22/2028

Purpose:

This directive provides guidance on the reimbursement of transportation expenses incurred by GSA employees on official business within the local area of an employee’s official worksite/duty station or appropriate alternative worksite.

Background:

While The Federal Travel Regulation (Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 41, Chapters 300 through 304) (FTR) regulates expense reimbursement for temporary duty travel away from the official station for GSA employees, it does not provide guidance for local travel expense reimbursement. This directive provides agency policy regarding local travel in absence of such policy in FTR.

Applicability:

This directive applies to all GSA organizations, programs, and personnel, including all Services, Staff Offices, and Regions. This Order applies to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to the extent that the OIG determines it is consistent with the OIG’s independence under the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 and does not conflict with other OIG policies or the OIG mission. This Order applies to The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) to the extent that the CBCA determines it is consistent with the CBCA’s independent authority under the Contract Disputes Act and applicable Federal Court decisions and does not conflict with other CBCA policies or its mission.

Cancellation:

This Order cancels and supersedes OAS 5770.1A, Local Travel Policy.

Summary of Changes:

The following changes have been made to the Order:

  1. The format and numbering of paragraphs has been updated, consistent with  OAS 1832.1C, Internal Directives Management.
  2. All policy references and links have been verified and updated, if needed.
  3. Paragraph 5 is revised to apply a 50-mile radius as the local travel area for all GSA employees unless a different standard is set by the Regional Administrators for employees within their respective regions. Importantly, the local travel area for Central Office employees whose official worksite/duty station is in the Washington, DC metropolitan is no longer defined by its former geographic boundaries: The District of Columbia; the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church in Virginia; Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia; and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland.
  4. Paragraph 9 is revised to provide updated guidance on selecting the method of transportation for local travel and add information on GSA’s Rideshare Program
  5. Appendix A is updated to include the definition of “E-Gov Travel System (ETS)”, update the definition of “Official Worksite/Duty Station”, and remove the definitions of “special conveyance” and “transit system” as they are not used herein.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Office of Travel and Charge Card Services, Office of Administrative Services (OAS) develops local travel policy for GSA employees. Regional offices may supplement this policy, but regional policy may not change or conflict with official policy. Regional policy must be cleared by the Office of Travel and Charge Card Services.