The new Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program requires
employers with 50 or more full-time employees in the Bay Area (included counties listed below) to
offer commuter benefits to their employees. Employers
subject to the program must select a commuter benefit, register via the program
website and implement their program by September 30, 2014.
The Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program requires these employers
to offer one or more of the following commuter benefit options to their
employees:
·
Option 1: Pre-Tax Benefit - Allow employees to
exclude up to $130 of their transit or vanpooling expenses each month from
taxable income.
·
Option 2: Employer-Provided Subsidy - Provide a
subsidy to reduce or cover employees’ monthly transit or vanpool costs, up to
$75 per month.
·
Option 3: Employer-Provided Transit - Provide a
free or low-cost transit service for employees, such as a bus, shuttle or
vanpool service.
·
Option 4: Alternative Commuter Benefit - Provide an alternative commuter benefit that is as effective in reducing single-occupancy commute trips as Options 1, 2 or 3.
Failure to comply may incur a financial penalty—amount determined
on a case-by-case basis. Although the agency won’t be able to audit everyone,
remember that employees who don’t get this benefit will be able to seek
remedies at 511.org.
Employers can visit 511.org
and click on Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program for program information and
employer outreach staff assistance or call 511 and say “Commuter Benefits” at
the first prompt to help employers get started or contact Judy Pearce,
650-518-0327.
*Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San
Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma