Brooklyn's Progress
December 2008/January 2009
 
Between high gas prices and rising traffic congestion, employees who drive to work alone are feeling stressed.  At the same time, companies confronting tough economic times are looking for innovative ways to reward employees and protect their bottom line.  CommuterLink, a New York-based nonprofit organization, provides solutions that can save money for employers and commuters, and improve the air we breathe at the same time. 

“Our goal at CommuterLink is to make money-saving Green Commuter Benefits accessible to all New York City businesses and their employees,” said John Galgano, CommuterLink President.  “Offering financial incentives to encourage employees to switch from driving alone to transit or ridesharing, saves employers money, improves morale and productivity, and helps the environment.” 

Simple, Affordable, and Green
CommuterLink provides a variety of options for companies who want to introduce money-saving commuter programs that also facilitate the environmentally friendly use of transit, vanpooling, or ridesharing.  One commuter benefit option that is growing in popularity as gas prices and traffic congestion increase is the pre-tax transit benefit.  Current IRS rules allow employers to establish programs where up to $115.00 per month of an employee’s salary may be used, tax-free, to cover eligible transit and vanpooling costs.  Employees save by reducing their taxable income and employers save by reducing payroll taxes.  For instance, a company with fifty employees whose average transit cost is $100.00 per month could save $3600 per year if all of its employees enrolled in a pre-tax transit benefit program.*  An employee, whose transit or vanpool commuting costs are $100.00 per month, could save up to $480 per year by enrolling in a pre-tax transit benefit.**  Aside from the valuable financial savings, the pre-tax transit benefit provides an incentive for drive-alone commuters to switch to transit or vanpooling.

Free Commuter Services
CommuterLink offers a full range of commuter benefit options at no cost to the employer or employee.  Working in partnership with a company, CommuterLink evaluates its needs, identifies the programs most suitable to its employee base and location, and provides hands-on implementation services.  For companies seeking financial assistance in starting a vanpool, rideshare, or other commuter program, CommuterLink offers New York City Commute Enhancement (NYCCE) grants which can be used to subsidize or supplement costs associated with eligible commuter benefit initiatives.

For employees making the switch from driving alone to transit or carpooling, CommuterLink provides customized, door-to-door mass transit routes and ride-matching assistance to link up potential carpoolers who live and work close by and share the same schedule.  Online ride-matching is facilitated through http://www.commuterlink.com/, a free service that helps commuters interested in carpooling to “link” up.  If a carpooler misses a ride home due to the need to work late or leave early, CommuterLink provides reimbursement for a taxi or mass transportation through its unique Guaranteed Ride Home program

Commuter Benefits at work in Brooklyn
Two long-time Brooklyn employers have worked with CommuterLink to encourage their employees to make commuting choices that save money and help the environment.  Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, a nonprofit organization, has worked with CommuterLink to introduce commuter benefits at its Brooklyn and Jamaica locations.  “We appreciate the very helpful services provided by CommuterLink,” said Herb Stupp of Little Flower.  “Their employee presentations reminded staff that we offer a pre-tax benefit through TransitChek to help them save money on commuting.  CommuterLink also helped our staff to plan more efficient mass transit routes to work, and suggested transit alternatives for drivers.  Their fun give-aways helped to educate the staff on transit and clean air issues.”

In the Park Slope area, New York Methodist Hospital has introduced incentives like free shuttles to and from subway and train stations, employee ride-matching services, and a pre-tax transit benefit that allows employees to pay for commuting by transit or vanpool with pre-tax dollars.  By offering flexible and personalized commuter benefits options, these employers are saving money, helping employees, and taking an important step in reducing roadway congestion and improving air quality in Brooklyn and the tri-state region.

Little Flower and Methodist Hospital, as well as Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, also represented Brooklyn in the recent Metro-Area Regional Commuter Choice Awards. The Awards program recognized approximately 20 businesses in New York City for their efforts to reduce congestion and improve air quality, which is also helping their bottom line.

For more information on CommuterLink’s cost saving Employer programs visit: http://employers.commuterlink.com/ or call 718-886-1343.

*Source: WageWorks website, http://www.wageworks.com/
**Source: TransitCenter, Inc. website, http://www.transitcenter.com/