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Developing Strategies and Solutions
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Durham Commute Trip Reduction Ordinance
To make commute
solutions more viable and attractive to employees, employers
are implementing strategies such as financial incentives,
marketing and education, technology and the formation of partnerships.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Financial incentives have a significant impact on commute
decisions. In 1998, the Transportation Equity Act for the
21st Century (TEA-21) amended the federal tax code to create
financial incentives for commuter benefits for employers and
employees. The following incentives are supported by IRS Tax
code 132 (f).
- Employer-paid Transportation
Benefits:
Employers can pay for their employees to commute by transit
or vanpool, up to a limit of $100/month. With this arrangement,
employees get up to $100 in a tax-free transportation benefit.
Employers get a tax deduction for the expense.
- Employee-paid, Pre-Tax Transportation
Benefits
Employers can allow employees to elect to exchange up to
$100/month in taxable salary for a tax-free transit or vanpool
benefit.
Employers save money overall since the amount exchanged is
not subject to payroll taxes. Employees save money, too,
since
the amount of an employee’s salary exchanged for transportation
benefits is not subject to income tax, up to the specified
monthly limits.
- Shared-cost Transportation Benefits
Employers can share the cost of transit or vanpool costs with
employees and everyone can receive valuable tax savings. With
this approach, employers can provide a portion of the cost
of taking transit or vanpooling as a tax-free benefit and
allow the employee to exchange taxable salary for a tax-free
transit or vanpool benefit.
- Parking Cash-Out
Employers can offer their employees the option to "cash
out" of their existing parking space. Cash-out programs
work best for employers that pay separately for parking and
for organizations with parking shortages or plans to expand
parking facilities.
MARKETING AND EDUCATION
Marketing and education are critical to the success of employer
commuter benefits/incentives program.
- Human Resources Support
The Human Resources department is one of an employer’s
most important resources in marketing and education employees
about their commuting choices. They are usually the first
point of contact for new employees and will administer commuter
tax benefits. Commuter tax benefits can be wrapped into the
overall benefits package. Educational materials promoting
commute alternatives and guidance on how to use commute alternatives
can be presented during new-hire orientations and during
insurance
renewal periods.
- Community-wide Marketing and
Education Programs
- Employer Materials Promoting Commute Alternatives and Benefits
- Educational Materials Relating
to the Costs and Benefits of Commute Alternatives
- Promotional Events or Programs
to Try Commuting Choices
TECHNOLOGY
New technologies are continuing to change the nature of the
commute and the demand for travel. Some of the following trends
are enhancing the viability of commute alternatives:
- Internet and Intranet Ridematching
Services for Carpools and Vanpools
- Real-time Transit Schedule Updates and Interactive Transit
Route Planning
- Real-time Information to Provide
Updates on Incidents, Emergencies, and Weather
- Intranet Telecommute (Telework)
Applications and Resources
-
Internet and Intranet Sites
Specific to an Employer’s Commuter Benefits/Incentives
Offerings
- Broadband Internet Communications
and Wireless Communications, Teleconferencing, Video Conferencing
- E-Commerce
PARTNERSHIPS
Many employers are finding valuable resources and support
by participating in regional, state, and national organizations
that are committed to reducing traffic congestion and improving
air quality.
SmartCommute@RTP
SmartCommute is a committee comprised of the major
employers in Research Triangle Park (RTP) whose mission is to provide
information and coordinate support and resources to enhance
and promote alternative commuting practices to proactively
confront travel demand and environmental issues facing organizations
within RTP. Its main objective is to lower
the number of single occupancy vehicles on the road in order
to reduce traffic congestion, auto generated air pollution
and energy consumption. The initiative represents the efforts
of over fifteen organizations and the majority of the 39,000
employees in RTP. To attend a SmartCommute
meeting, become a member or inquire about the group’s
efforts, email smartcommute@rtp.org. Learn more on the
About Us page.
Regional Transportation Alliance
The Regional Transportation Alliance is a growing non-profit
organization whose focus is on identifying and advocating
regional mobility solutions for the Triangle area of North
Carolina. The organization is made up of our region’s
business leaders who are committed to providing a sustained
quality of life for all Triangle residents. For more information, email alliance@letsgetmoving.org or call 919.664.7062.
NCGo!
NCGo! is the only diverse statewide group of organizations,
businesses and individuals fighting to ease traffic congestion.
Its members include NCCBI, Cisco Systems, Wachovia, The Research
Triangle Foundation, local chambers of commerce, regional
transit systems, construction industry associations, and consulting
engineers. For more information email ncgo@ncgo.org or call 919.882.1978.
NC Public Transportation Association
NCPTA is a private, non-profit organization that promotes
public transportation throughout North Carolina. The 192 plus
members include rural and urban transit systems, local transportation
agencies, suppliers, consultants, and corporations as well
as individuals interested in public transportation in North
Carolina. For more information, visit www.nctransit.org.
Triangle Clean Cities Coalition
The mission of the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition (TCCC)
is to support the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities
Program and promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs)
in the Triangle Region by creating partnerships to develop
the AFV market and related infrastructure. For more information,
visit www.trianglecleancities.org.
Triangle Air Awareness
The mission of the N.C. Air Awareness Program is to provide
an education and outreach program that will inform the public,
business, and industry on air pollution, its causes, its effects,
and what can be done to prevent it. During the summer months
or the ozone season, the N.C. Air Awareness Program will provide
information on what causes ground-level ozone and specifically
what actions can help reduce emission that contribute to ozone.
The Ozone Action program is designed to motivate individuals
and companies to take actions on days that are conducive to
high levels of ozone in order to reduce emissions contributing
to ozone formation. For more information, visit www.triangleairaware.org.
Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative
Through the Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative, employers
who achieve the National Standard of Excellence receive federal
recognition for their contributions to cleaner air and reduced
traffic congestion. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and the U.S. Department of Transportation designate employers
who meet this level of participation as Commuter Choice Employers – a
mark of environmental and commuter friendliness. Designations
in our area have been awarded to NIEHS, UNC-Chapel
Hill, and U.S. EPA-RTP. U.S. EPA was the first organization
in the state of North Carolina to apply for and receive this
designation. For more information on Commuter Choice and
the
Leadership Initiative, visit www.commuterchoice.gov
or call the hotline, (888) 856.3131.
Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)
A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting commuting
benefits and to providing the latest news information about
legislative decisions that affect these benefits. ACT facilitates
an annual conference that is the premier professional development
and networking TDM conference of it’s a kind. For more
information, visit www.actweb.org.
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