Norton Says Her Bill in Tax Extenders Bill Erasing Tax Break Preference for Parking over Transit Commuter Benefits is a Major Victory for Public Transit Users and Metro

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, today said that the tax extenders bill, which passed the House yesterday and the Senate today, contains her bill to permanently restore parity between pre-tax commuter transit and parking benefits, both of which will be $255 per month. Norton's bill should help alleviate the dramatic reduction in transit system ridership here and across the country, including a 5% decrease in Metrorail commuters in the national capital region, which occurred after commuter transit benefits decreased by nearly 50% at the end of 2013.

"Permanently closing this indefensible gap between tax benefits for parking and for riding transit could be something of a lifeline for Metro against a massive drop in transit ridership," Norton said. "Increasing ridership, not fares, is the ultimate solution for Metrorail's financial woes. I look forward to seeing more of our region's riders taking advantage of the increased pre-tax commuter transit benefits and once again riding Metro."