Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Legislation to temporarily establish parity between parking and transit/vanpool benefits at $230 per month per commuter was extended. However, the transit/vanpool portion of the benefit will revert to $125 per month when the provision expires at the end of the year while the parking benefit increases to $240.

A demographic survey of riders shows that 70 percent of those who rely on public transit have household incomes ranging from $15,000 to $99,000 a year. William Millar, president, calls for public transit riders to tell Congress to support the commuter transit benefit in any tax proposal passed before the end of the year.

The rollback could happen by the end of the year because of partisan gridlock. The higher benefit could be extended for one year if a green energy tax bill, drafted by Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, passes.