New York state Sen. Jeremy Cooney recently introduced a bill aimed at helping commuters manage their transportation costs.
A similar model was proven successful with New York City’s Commuter Benefits Law. The law has been in place since 2016, and Cooney hopes to bring that model to upstate employees.
“Here in Monroe County, commuters pay between ($200) and $500 per month on average,” said Cooney. “So what are they spending that on? Bus passes, cycling costs, maybe some ride-sharing costs, depending on what their need is, if they don’t hold their own vehicle, or if they’re trying to go a distance that’s too far to walk or take a bicycle.”
The bill will lower costs for commuters by authorizing the use of state-level pre-tax earnings to purchase transportation benefits. Employers will be able to offer these benefits as a program for their employees.
“Think of it like an HSA Health Savings Account,” said Cooney.
Employers can individually decide how the benefit is used based on their company’s payroll and may offer employees the option to use their pre-tax earnings to cover the costs. Benefits can cover the costs of transportation, including:
The bill has not yet been brought to the floor of the state legislature for a vote. It under review by the Senate Finance Committee.
Commuter bill receives support from Reconnect Rochester
Reconnect Rochester joined Cooney at their new headquarters in the Harro East building in support of the bill earlier this year. According to Reconnect Rochester, 24% of Rochester households lack access to a personal vehicle, exceeding 50% in neighborhoods with a higher poverty rate.
“ It’s creating a new way for employers to support the transportation needs of their employees,” said co-executive director of Reconnect Rochester Mary Staropoli. Larger companies such as Amazon and T-Mobile are currently partnering with RTS to help Rochester employees with their daily commutes.
This bill will also allow employers to help employees with commutes to medical appointments and other community resources.
“It’s not just about getting from the employees’ home to their place of work — it’s empowering them to use public transit, how they see fit,” Cooney said. “ We really just want to put another tool in the toolbox so that workers have an option for their transit needs.”
— Genae Shields is the Business & Development reporter for the Democrat & Chronicle, focusing on transportation and mobility. Reach out at gshields@usatoday.com or on Instagram: @genaebriphoto for questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you for your continued support!
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester official proposes using pre-tax earnings for transit costs
Reporting by Genae Shields, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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