Commuter Choice
One Way to Beat the High Cost of the WMATA Fare Increase

GET YOUR EMPLOYER TO ENROLL:
Ask your employer's human resources department or your manager if your company is enrolled in a pre-tax transit subsidy program like Metrochek. Employers of all sizes are eligible.

If they are not enrolled, ask them what they are waiting for. Customize the sample letter below to help contact your HR department or manager. For more information on Metrochek and other commuter benefit programs, visit Environmental Defense online.

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SAMPLE LETTER TO EMPLOYER:
[date]
Human Resources Department
[company name here]
[company address here]

To whom it may concern:

On June 29th, Metrobus and Metrorail fare and pass increases went into effect along with an increase for daily parking rates. By enrolling our company in "Commuter Choice" programs, you can help commuters like me offset the fare increases with tax savings. I am writing to ask for your help in taking advantage of that opportunity.

Commuter Choice gives companies a tax break for helping commuters like me use transit. For example, if our company were enrolled in a program like Metrochek, I could save up to $400 a year by paying for transit passes with pre-tax dollars, and the company would save on payroll taxes. Some employers choose to subsidize transit passes directly up to $100 a month, tax free,  and may get a big tax break for doing so. Maryland employers can get a 50% tax credit for transit, vanpool, or cash-in-lieu-of-parking benefits. And up to $170 a month in park-and-ride fees can be covered with pre-tax earnings deducted from employee pay checks, or be employer-paid.  

Our company can offer Commuter Choice programs at little or no cost. Third-party service providers can manage all transit benefits for a modest fee – one that is usually more than offset by the employer’s payroll tax savings and tax deductions.

Commuter Choice is a triple-win: the company saves on taxes, commuters save on transit costs, and the environment wins when employees travel to work on transit. I hope you will consider enrolling in a commuter choice program today. Information and a list of service providers can be found at www.commuterchoice.com and www.environmentaldefense.org/go/commuter.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
[your name here]
[your job title here]