Commuter Resource Rhode Island Program Booklet

Taking transit is a great way to turn your commute into a relaxing, economical, and earth-friendly method of transport. Commuter Resource Rhode Island has created various programs to help make commuting practical and affordable for people just like you.

EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE TRANSIT BENEFITS

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority and Commuter Resource Rhode Island encourage you to offer your employees a transit benefit using one of three ways:

1. Employer pays for bus fare as a fully subsidized, tax-free benefit. Bus fare is paid for by the employer. Employer receives a tax deduction for the expense and saves on payroll related taxes.  Employee receives benefit free of all payroll and income tax.

2. Employee pays for bus fare with pre-tax payroll deduction. Cost of bus fare is taken from pre-tax income thereby reducing taxable income.  Employer and employee save because taxes are computed on the reduced amount of earnings.

3. Employee shares cost of bus fare with employer. The employer may pay a portion of the bus fare, then allow the employee to pay the balance with pre-tax or after-tax income.

The pre-tax contribution is currently set at up to $270 per month. Please keep in mind that this limit is set each year and can change from year to year.

Wave to Work (formerly Eco Pass)

You can offer your employees a reduced transit cost benefit with Wave to Work — a prepaid electronic smart card or mobile app for use onboard RIPTA vehicles.

Wave to Work is a simple way for you to offer your employees a benefit that has a positive impact on both the environment and your bottom line. Employers pay a reduced fare rate, distribute as many cards as they want, and pay only for the rides taken. There are no implementation costs and administrative assistance and technical support are free.

Wave to Work can:

• Reduce demand for employer provided parking
• Reduce costs associated with providing leased parking
• Allow flexibility to convert employee provided parking into customer parking
• Fulfill corporate “Green” initiatives
• Reduce payroll taxes via pre-tax transit benefit
• Save employees 40% by using pre-tax dollars

What do Employers receive?

• Free Wave smart cards or Wave mobile apps
• Employers can bypass FICA and other payroll related expenses by allowing employees to use pre-tax dollars

Emergency Ride Home

All registered Vanpool and Carpool participants are eligible for  two Emergency Rides Home a year. Please call 401-784-9500 ext. 1121 for details.

UPASS

Funded by participating colleges and universities, the University Pass Program (U-PASS), allows faculty at participating schools to receive transit benefits.  If you’re interested in receiving transit benefits from your institute of higher education, please contact your school administrator and let them know you’re interested in U-PASS.

Participating schools:

• Brown University
• Bryant University
• CCRI
• Johnson & Wales
• Providence College
• Rhode Island College
• RISD
• Salve Regina
• URI

For more information, call RIPTA’s Commuter Resource Rhode Island Program at 401-784-9575.

Parking Cash Out

State law requires that employers who provide subsidized parking for their employees must offer a free RIPTA transit pass in lieu of a parking space.

This law is called the parking cash-out program. The intent of the law is to reduce vehicle commute trips and emissions by offering employees the option of “cashing out” their subsidized parking spaces and taking transit to work for free.

Parking Cash Out applies to employers who meet the following criteria:

• Located within 1/4 of a mile of a RIPTA bus line
• Have 50 or more employees
• Have leased parking
• Subsidize employee parking by paying the cost and allowing the employee free or reduced-rate parking

Parking Cash Out has many benefits for both employers and employees alike. For employers, it can:

• Reduce the demand for employee parking
• Reduce costs associated with leased parking. (A transit pass is frequently a less expensive benefit than a parking space.)
• Allow for flexibility to convert employee parking to customer parking
• Reduce traffic on local roadways
• Create good public relations with employees and the community

The benefits for employees include:

• Saving money on gas
• Free RIPTA transit passes for those who give up their parking spot
• Relief from the stress of driving in traffic
• Free time on the bus to read, relax or even get some work done

Park & Ride

Park & Rides are strategically located parking lots, either privately or state owned, that are free of charge to anyone who parks a vehicle and commutes by transit or in a carpool. These lots are unattended, so be sure your vehicle and belongings are secure.

For Park & Ride service to Providence schedule information, call RIPTA at 781-9400 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Other Transit

• Peter Pan: Peter Pan has three convenient terminals. The main terminal is located at One Bonanza Way in Providence, but it also stops at Kennedy Plaza and T.F. Green Airport.
• Greyhound: Travelers can catch a Greyhound bus at 99 West Exchange Street or at One Bonanza Way in Providence.
• Mega Bus: Mega Bus offers three daily departures from its arrival location at the corner of Fountain Street and Eddy Street in Providence.