Public Employee Press

Transit benefit extended to suburbs

The city has finally extended the Commuter Benefits Program to include commuters who live outside New York City.

The benefit now covers commuters who use the Long Island and Metro-North railroads, New Jersey Transit, PATH and New York Waterway. The expanded program also covers the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Access-A-Ride paratransit plan and parking, in addition to any transportation operator that accepts the program's debit card.

The union won the benefit in negotiations for its 2004 economic agreement with the city, but a series of disputes and a switch in the vendor led to delays.
DC 37 went to arbitration to force the city to implement the program, which the Official of Payroll Administration put into effect Dec. 1.

During discussions about the benefit, the union beat back the city's effort to impose a fee on the standard subway plan; however, some of the transportation programs include a minor fee.

Information about the expanded benefit is available at the Web site of the Office of Payroll Administration. Go to www.nyc.gov/html/opa/html/home/home.shtml and click on "Transit Benefit Program." Wage Works administers the program, and members can get more information on the benefit at www.getwageworks.com/nyc.

In 2009, the Obama administration's economic stimulus plan raised the monthly pre-tax transit limit from $120 to $230. In December, the U.S. Congress extended the higher coverage under President Obama's tax-cut plan.

In November, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts called for Congress to continue the $230 coverage. She made the appeal in letters to U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, and U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, the ranking minority member, as well as to Sen. Max Baucus, chair of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking minority member.

"We strongly urge you to maintain the $230 public transportation pre-tax benefit level," Roberts said. "This is an important opportunity to provide the middle class with tax relief and promote public transportation."