• Ferry Service Opens Up New Choice for Commuters to NYC
  
  
• MetroPool Announces Staff Appointment.
  
  
• Fairfield Company Finds Four-Wheeled Stress Reduction Tool.
  
  Pre-Tax Deduction Cutting Commute Costs for Aquarium Employees.
  
  
• Transportation Organizations Joined Forces To Reach Commuters.
  
  
• Summit Laid Foundation for New View of Transportation Options.
  
  
• "Transportation and Jobs: Overcoming Obstacles" --a successful collaborative effort in Ulster County, NY.

Metropool provides free services with the support of the Connecticut and New York State Departments of Transportation.

Pre-Tax Deduction Cutting Commute Costs for Aquarium Employees

Cheating the Tax Man can be like swimming with hungry sharks: you'll probably get bitten. But making the most of the Tax Man's own rules is like watching the sharks from the safety of an aquarium. And that's just what the employees of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk get to do!

The Aquarium helps employees reduce the cost of commuting by taking full legal advantage of the federal tax code. Federal tax law allows employees to spend up to $65 per month on transit tickets, tokens, or vouchers (or on qualified vanpool fares), and either be reimbursed by their employer for that expense, or simply pay the fares with pre-tax dollars via payroll deduction through their employer. Similarly, employees can be reimbursed - or pay in pre-tax dollars - for up to $175 a month in qualified employee parking.

"We take transit fares out of employees' pay as a pre-tax deduction," explained Helen Gardner, Payroll Administrator at the Aquarium. "Employees buy their ticket at the beginning of the month, then give me a copy, and I process the deductions at the end of the month."

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk started making this service available to its employees in July, and six people have signed up to date, according to Gardner. Although the ceiling is $65 a month, Gardner said most of the participants use a little less than that, averaging $50 to $60 per month.

Gardner had heard about the commute benefit on the radio and in MetroPool literature. "I take the train myself and thought it would be a good opportunity for people who have to travel a long distance to work," she said. "My boss commutes two hours each way. But most employees average more like 45 to 60 minutes."

The Aquarium has roughly 150 employees, and Gardner hopes others will take advantage of the benefit. "We sent out flyers and made everyone aware, but didn't get a huge response. I think it will become more popular, though. It also depends on whether someone lives close to a mass transit station to make it worth their while. So far, no one is using the vanpool option. Some people still prefer to drive, but driving is horrendous on I-95."

Employees are also allowed a deduction for qualified parking, and can take it quarterly, monthly, or semi-annually, Gardner explained. "It's pretty flexible. There are no specific time guidelines, and the set-up is company-defined, so one can make one's own schedule for deductions. I pay for my parking annually and take the deduction semi-annually, but my boss pays monthly."

Gardner, who has been at the Aquarium for three of its 12 years, noted that the people who are involved in the program feel that it's working fine. "They understand the mechanics of it all, and that they just have to get proof of payment to me for payroll input. We've had no problem, so far."

Well, there is one complaint. "My boss thinks the transit pass should have a higher value than the parking," said Gardner. "The ($65) maximum is not enough to pay for his ticket." The transit benefit will increase to $100 in 2002, and Gardner will be pleased to note that efforts are under way to increase this amount even further.

For more information on how the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is handling its pre-tax commute benefits deduction, contact Helen Gardner at 203-852-0700 x256. For guidance in setting up a system at your own company, call John Lyons at MetroPool at 203-388-4407.