Fearing Metro Fare Increases and Service Cuts, Norton Again Pushes for Permanent Commuter Transit Benefit Parity

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, will introduce a bill to restore parity between commuter transit and parking benefits permanently following the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) announcement that it is considering Metro fare increases and service reductions. As part of the "fiscal cliff" negotiations in early 2013, Congress increased the commuter benefit to $245 (per month), creating parity with parking benefits, but that parity ended on December 31, 2013. As a result, mass transit benefits decreased by nearly 50%, to $130, while the benefit for parking increased to $250 per month, where they stand today. The decrease in transit benefits has led to a striking reduction in transit system ridership across the country, including a 25% decrease in Metrorail commuters in the national capital region, with riders switching to alternative means of commuting once they reach the $130 limit. Norton is seeking original cosponsors for her bill.

"Predictably, the unfair disparity between tax benefits for parking and transit has resulted in a big hole in ridership that can be retrieved only by getting riders back on mass transit throughout the nation," said Norton. "Our bill is urgently needed to reestablish parity, so as to reduce the need for fare increases or service cuts."

Last Congress, Norton introduced a bill to establish parity for transit commuter benefits, but it was ultimately limited to one year (2014) because of the perceived costs associated with a permanent extension.