Results from a recent market research survey by TransitCenter, the marketer of TransitChek, indicate that the federal mass transit commute benefit, which enables purchase of transit passes with pre-tax income, is helping promote mass transit and reduce car use in the region. The benefit is only available to commuters whose employers choose to participate.

Between November 2003 and January 2004, TransitCenter interviewed 3,050 commuters in the greater New York City metropolitan area. Respondents were placed into four groups: TransitChek users, non-users, potential users, and car commuters.

28% of respondents stated that their employer does offer a transit benefit program, and of those 68% participated in the program. Over 80% of commuters whose employers do not offer commuter benefit programs would be interested in participating if their employer offered it. 14% stated that they did not use mass transit before receiving TransitChek. 51% of car commuters stated they would consider switching to mass transit if the pre tax benefit (including parking) saved them $1,200 per year.

TransitCenter believes two steps need to be taken to increase the use and the success of TransitChek: (1) the federal government should increase the cap on pre-tax transit spending from $100 per month to $195 per month, the current allowable level for the federal commuter parking benefit and (2) awareness of and accessibility to the program should increase.

In May 2003, NYC City Council Speaker Gifford Miller introduced legislation to require New York City companies with 50 or more employees to implement the TransitChek program, but the bill died at the end of the session. It was proposed to counteract the Metropolitan Transportation Authority fare hike implemented that year. For more about the program, visit www.transitcenter.org.  

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