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The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee is set to vote on the five-year federal transportation reauthorization bill tomorrow, but there are some serious flaws in the legislation. MTR will have more on the bill in a later post, but it’s important to know that it: eliminates the largest two programs dedicated to pedestrian and bicycle [...]  The rollback in the transit benefit impacts the highlighted NJ Transit stations, and then some (this image was cropped for space). Click to view all of the affected stations in PDF form. Transit riders throughout the tri-state region are facing heavy financial burdens after the transit commuter benefit was rolled back on January 1. Before the cut, Americans could spend up to $230 in pretax income on the public transit that gets them to work, but the figure is now $125. At the same time, an equivalent benefit for parking rose to $240 per month, which means that the federal tax code now incentivizes driving over public transportation. A monthly pass between New York City and almost any station on NJ Transit rail, Metro-North, or the Long Island Rail Road costs more than $125. For someone who makes $50,000 annually and spends $230 a month on transit, the rollback is tantamount to a yearly tax hike of $400.  At CommuterBenefitsWorkForUs.com, workers can e-mail Congress in support of restoring the transit benefit. Lawmakers that attempted to extend the expiring commuter tax benefit at the end of last year have renewed their efforts in 2012. Senator Chuck Schumer said he would continue working to restore the benefit, New Jersey Senators Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez made similar pledges, and Connecticut’s Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Rosa DeLauro highlighted the issue at a press conference. All support the Commuter Benefits Equity Act (S1034/HR2412), which would permanently set the transit benefit equal to the parking benefit at $240/month. It has been co-sponsored by 10 senators, including all six from the tri-state region. The House equivalent currently has 62 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle. When Congress debates the extension of a payroll tax cut, which will expire on February 29, legislators will likely have an opportunity to restore the benefit on a temporary basis. Commuters can e-mail Congress in support of restoring the transit benefit at CommuterBenefitsWorkForUs.com. In the New York State Legislature, Senator Charles Fuschillo has introduced a bill to allow residents to deduct commuting costs from their state taxes as if the federal benefit had not been reduced. (State residents would still have a higher federal tax bill if Congress does not restore the benefit). After the jump, TSTC maps show the rollback’s impact on Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road customers. NYC express bus riders, NJ Transit riders, commuter bus riders, and many whose commute involves multiple transit systems also have monthly transit costs that top $125. Virtually all LIRR riders who receive federal transit commuter benefits will be hit with a "transit tax hike" next year. (Click to view larger.) While some in Congress indulge in end-of-year partisanship, it’s transit riders who will be hit by the hangover come January 1. Transportation For America reports that the transit commuter [...] Municipalities interested in transit-oriented development: This could be you! (Photo of award ceremony at Stratford, CT.) This Friday is the deadline for municipalities to submit letters of interest for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign/One Region Funders’ Group’s Transit-Oriented Development community assistance grant program. The program provides grants between $10,000 and $50,000 for municipalities interested [...] A national freight program could help pay for port and rail projects that are central to the region's economy. Photo of Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal by Albert E. Theberge/NOAA. [Update: On Wednesday, the Senate's Commerce Committee voted to include much of the FREIGHT Act in its portion of the Senate's transportation reauthorization bill. More [...] 2010 MTA service cuts went into effect after hundreds of millions of dollars were diverted from the budget by Albany. In June, the NY State Legislature passed “transit lockbox” legislation to make it harder for Albany politicians to redirect money from dedicated transit funds, as has been done in recent years. Months later, [...] Sen. Schumer held a press conference at Grand Central Terminal this month in support of extending tax benefits for transit commuters. All six of the region’s senators are standing behind legislation to avoid an impending “transit tax hike” that would affect many commuters. Under federal law, commuters can use up to $230/month in pre-tax [...] Stratford, CT was awarded $50,000 in the initial TSTC/One Region grant program in spring 2009. It was able to build upon that grant, winning a $250,000 state grant this year. Today the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and the One Region Funders’ Group announced they would accept proposals for a second round of their community assistance [...] [Update: The reauthorization bill was adopted by the EPW Committee today on an 18-0 vote, with one package of amendments adopted. Importantly, the CMAQ "reserve fund" that is a (more-or-less) dedicated source for bike/ped funding can no longer pay for road projects.] The 2-year transportation reauthorization bill released by the Senate’s Environment and Public [...] The bus rapid transit system planned for the Tappan Zee Bridge corridor would not add $10+ billion to the project's cost. As Hudson Valley and regional elected officials, civic leaders, and citizens have weighed in on the new plans for the Tappan Zee project, the media has done an extensive and accurate job [...] |
 
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