Long-sought transportation benefit achieved
By DEBORAH A. MILES
As a result of PEF’s PS&T contract efforts, the pre-tax transportation benefit will soon be a reality for members working in New York City. Enrollments for the program, dubbed NYS-Ride, will begin in March.
The program will allow eligible state employees who work in New York City’s five boroughs to purchase monthly transportation passes with pre-tax dollars. Members who enroll will be able to save up to 40 percent of their monthly commuting expenses.
“This program has been in the works for some time,” said PEF Director of Contract Administration Robert Carrothers. “Part of the delay is a direct result of PEF’s victory in contract negotiations to expand this program from a limited pilot for employees of five agencies to all PS&T employees working in New York City.”
Employees will be able to purchase passes from among hundreds of providers serving the downstate region.
“The state has told us virtually every transportation provider who sells monthly passes for employees commuting to New York will be included in this program,” Carrothers said.
One of the special arrangements the state made is to allow employees to pay the full cost of their monthly passes via payroll deduction. The first $105 will be paid with pre-tax dollars and the balance with a post-tax deduction. Once the payroll deduction is implemented, the monthly passes will automatically be sent to the employee.
The state hired WageWorks, the vendor used by the federal Transportation Administration Service Center, to administer the program.
“The program will have the flexibility to allow employees to modify their purchase options from month to month as their needs change; for example, when they go on vacation,” Carrothers said.
Members will be able to find more details on the NYS-Ride program on the PEF Web site,
www.pef.org, when they become available. And, informational meetings will be held in New York City.
The
Communicator May 2005
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