The Association for Commuter Transportation announces the introduction of the Commuter Benefit Parity Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation would establish parity between the parking and transit portions of the transportation fringe benefit by setting the monthly caps for both at $235/month.
Transportation costs represent the second-largest household expense for American families. According to Transportation for America, the average household in St. Louis spends almost 20 percent of its budget on transportation, obscuring the fact this region is an affordable place to live. During the past several years, members of Congress have been working together to bring permanent parity to transit and parking pre-tax benefits.
Permanent parity assists commuters in creating permanent changes to the way they commute, moving toward increased ridership of transit and vanpools, and reducing traffic congestion.
Joining Rep. King in introducing the legislation is Rep. Randy Hultgen (R-IL), Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY).