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Newsby StaffDecember 29, 2011

Transit commuter tax benefit to be cut by nearly half next year

In 2011, both drivers and mass transit riders received a $230 monthly exception. Starting Jan. 1, the tax break for drivers will go up to $240, due to a cost-of-living increase, but transit riders will be forced to make do with $125 per month in pretax money.

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Newsby StaffDecember 6, 2011

APTA: Failure to extend transit commuter benefits favors drivers

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.

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Newsby StaffNovember 18, 2011

House, Senate passes transportation appropriations

The Conference Committee approved the bill by a vote of 38-1. The House passed the bill 298-121, while the Senate approved it with a vote of 70-30. The bill now heads to the President, who is expected to sign it, thereby completing work on the FY 2012 budget for the Department of Transportation.

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Newsby StaffNovember 9, 2011

N.Y. Senator pushes for transit tax break extension

Sen. Charles Schumer called for Congress to renew the federal tax break that allows workers to use up to $230 a month of their salaries for transit costs. Nearly 3 million commuters nationwide take advantage of the benefit.

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Newsby StaffOctober 6, 2011

Bill proposed to improve air quality around infrastructure projects

The bill aims to achieve a priority set in the last surface transportation authorization by expanding access to federal dollars under existing transportation programs for diesel engine upgrades. Diesel fuel powers most heavy machinery and vehicles used on construction sites.

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Newsby StaffMay 6, 2011

UMA, NSTA host joint meeting on Capitol Hill

Participants from both organizations heard from an array of members of Congress on transportation-specific topics, such as the highway reauthorization bill.

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Newsby StaffMay 5, 2011

Chicago Transit Authority fights transit security funding cuts

President Richard Rodriguez appealed to U.S. House Committee members not to reduce funding, especially since the death of Osama Bin Laden may increase the risk of retaliation from his supporters. U.S. Rep. Peter King agreed that transit is vulnerable to a terrorist attack.

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Newsby StaffApril 7, 2011

APTA: House budget proposal would cut jobs, transit options

President William Millar told the House of Representatives that transit reductions of 30 percent or more outlined in the FY 2012 budget proposal by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) would halt thousands projects needed in the years ahead. He added that while transportation programs account for less than 3 percent of the federal budget, they support or create more than 2.5 million jobs annually.

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Newsby StaffMarch 3, 2011

House passes Fed transportation spending through 2011

Members of both parties said they would prefer a full reauthorization of transportation spending, but also said yet another extension is needed to ensure transportation construction can go forward over the summer.

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Newsby StaffFebruary 15, 2011

APTA: Congress budget cuts will jeopardize transit investment

President William A. Millar said that proposed cuts to public transportation and high-speed rail made by the House Appropriations Committee to H.R. 1 will lead to fewer American jobs, fewer safety improvements for public transit users, and will decrease the U.S.’s ability to build for the future.

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