Transit Groups and Riders Advocate for Reversal of Expected Tax Increase of Up to $550
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Led by the CommuterBenefitsWorkForUs.Com coalition, which includes public agencies, transit operators and private businesses, pressure has grown for Congress to quickly pass legislation that would reverse cuts to the monthly pre-tax transit benefit available to commuters who use public transportation and vanpools. Without a fix, the monthly amount that can be set aside for public transportation expenses has been reduced from $230 to $125 per month. As a result, many are projected to face an increase in annual commuting costs of up to $550 this year. At the same time, the amount that can be set aside to cover parking costs as part of a commute to work increased from $230 to $240 per month due to a cost of living adjustment.
“In this economy, it makes no sense to sock hard-working mass transit commuters with a new tax increase,” said U.S. SenatorCharles Schumer, the senior senator from the State of New York. “Congress must step up to the plate and extend the full mass transit tax benefit as part of the payroll tax cut. It’s simply not fair to squeeze middle class mass transit commuters with a more expensive commute.”
In October, VPSI’s Orange, California team and Chris Turley, Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) at Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB), partnered to provide an update on the changes to the Commute to Work (CTW) benefit. In anticipation of a benefit reduction from $230.00 to $125.00 per month, many vanpool participants were concerned about the CTW benefit going away all together.

Chris Turley, Employee Transportation Coordinator at LAAFB
Chris and the VPSI team took a pro-active approach by presenting facts about the CTW benefit, to clarify and avoid negative reactions. VPSI reminded the group that public vanpool subsidies would continue, and also discussed vanpool costs and van sizes to accurately break down passenger costs. They also demonstrated VPSI’s vRide ride matching website, which helps vanpool groups recruit new passengers and fill empty seats.
Check out this fantastic video that Andre Milteer posted about his VPSI vanpool. Thanks Andre for sharing it with us!
As part of VPSI’s ongoing efforts to promote safe driving, Cecilia Cannon, VPSI’s Houston Project Manager, hosted several vanpool safety meetings for volunteer vanpool driversin the month of October. The meetings were at Marathon Oil, the Harris County Appraisal District, the Houston VA Medical Center and the Houston Veterans Administration Regional Office. Ms. Cannon was accompanied by VPSI Account Managers Henry Moz and Jeffrey Miller. Andy Bawden, a Vanpool Safety Instructor for VPSI, conducted the meetings.
Each of the 70-minute meetings began by asking the drivers to identify the different sizes of the vans used, the lengths of the commutes, the number of drivers in each van and where the vans are parked when not at the workplace. With this information Mr. Bawden provided instructions on how to safely handle a van in many situations. He then presented The Vanpool Difference, VPSI’s three-part 14-minute safety video. At the beginning and end of each part the drivers discussed what they had seen and offered comments relative to their own vanpooling experiences.

VPSI thanks Ellen Meyer at Marathon Oil, Charlene Fields at the Harris County Appraisal District, Martha Barragan at Houston VA Medical Center and Mittie Gregory and Jo Ann White at the VA Regional Office for all their help and support in organizing these meetings recently and in the past.
By Mark Kreindler
VPSI’s Risk Manager
Winter weather is (unfortunately) fast approaching and snow has already started falling in some parts of the country. It’s a good time to review some basic winter weather safe driving tips. Here are some pre- trip tips to make sure your vehicle is in top winter driving shape:
First, check the battery, coolant and wiper blades. Fill the washer fluid and always keep the gas tank at least half full. Next, check the tires for wear and proper inflation and be sure to keep a snow scraper/brush in vehicle.
Now for the driving tips: