BUSINESS BENEFITS OF BUS & VAN POOLING

Encouraging your employees to bus or van pool makes good business sense.

Find and keep good employees — difficult commutes wear people down and result in job turnover.

Attract employees who want to Go Green — Helping your employees bus pool gives them a green option, reduces their car expenses, and reduces wear and tear on their vehicle.

Expand your labor pool — attract potential employees who don't have access to a car and those who live in areas with inconvenient public transportation routes to your facility.

Reduce parking needs — free up parking spaces for customers and visitors and avoid the expense of parking expansion.

Reduce your employees’ commuting time — bus pooling allows the use of HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes where they exist.

Reduce tardiness and absenteeism — it's a fact, when employees commit to a commute alternative they are more likely to get to work on time and less likely to be absent from work.

Reduce turnover and new employee training costs — reduce recruitment expenses, per-diem personnel costs, and reduce the time wasted in training new employees.

Improve productivity and morale — employees who bus or van pool arrive at work on time and ready to work. Employee stress levels are lowered by the camaraderie during the ride. Lowered stress means fewer health problems, illnesses and doctors’ visits, a combination that benefits employees and their employers.

Help your employees save money — you can offer each employee up to $230 per month as a tax-free benefit. Offer an emergency ride home program. Consider subsidizing transit passes and vanpool fares.

Reduce your tax burden — check out the tax benefits of bus and van pooling and see how you can save money while helping employees pay for transit and vanpooling.

TAX BENEFITS OF BUS & VAN POOLING

The Federal Government offers tax incentives to increase the use of bus or van pools and public transit to and from the workplace under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.

Currently, up to $230 per month in non-taxable and/or pre-tax dollars may be set aside to pay fares for bus or van pools. Employers can give their workers up to $230 per month to cover fares as a tax-free benefit. Alternatively, employers can allow employees to pay for fares with a pre-tax payroll deduction or a combination of the two.  No matter who pays, payroll taxes are reduced for both the business and the worker. Further business tax deductions for transportation programs may be applicable.

Contact TransitCenter for more information on tax benefits and to obtain vouchers:

Phone: 800.204.5808
Website: http://www.transitcenter.com/transitresources/Guide_NewYork.aspx

 

IMPROVE YOUR CORPORATE IMAGE

If you encourage your employees to bus or van pool, you will help the entire community. Participation in bus pools and van pools reduce traffic congestion on local roads and reduces air pollution. Creating a transportation benefit package will improve driving conditions for the surrounding roads -- and garner the goodwill of your community.

Offering Ken-Doo Transport bus or van pool services to your employees will make your company eligible for a Best Workplace for Commuters recognition from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This ‘seal of approval’ reflects the high priority placed on reducing drive-alone commuting.