Programs & Services TYTRAN offers many opportunities for participation in transportation programs and provides transportation and commuting services to members in Tysons Corner. Commuter Program The TYTRAN Commuter Program is a voluntary program that provides opportunities for member employees to participate in a variety of ridesharing activities designed to increase employee awareness of transit and transportation options into and around the Tysons Corner area. Current Commuter program elements include carpool and vanpool matchlist generation; provision of transit schedules and itineraries; general alternative transportation information; air quality and trip reduction educational program information; a guaranteed ride home program; and a quarterly Commuter News publication for employees. TYTRAN's Commuter Program achieves economies of scale and ensures the greatest level of success by eliminating the need for duplicative and often costly individual transportation programs, and by providing an expanded network of ridesharing options made available to the combined membership of TYTRAN. Tax Free Commuter Choice Program The Commuter Choice Program: It is called Commuter Choice because it gives employees an attractive alternative to driving alone to work. Recent changes to the Internal Revenue Code make it easier for companies to offer public transportation benefits to their employees, currently an employer may give up to $65.00 a month or up to $780 per year in actual eligible transportation costs tax-free to an employee, or up to $175 a month in eligible parking benefits. Eligible Transit Modes: The $65.00 Commuter Choice tax free benefit applies to travel via public buses, trains, ferries or vanpools. In our area that means anyone using Metro, metro bus, Fairfax Connector; SmartMover; VRE; or any vanpool. Also, employees who have to drive to make a connection to public transportation may be eligible for the parking connection benefit, up to $175 per month to pay for parking at a location from which employees commute by public transportation, such as park-and-ride lot, transit station or facility, or vanpool staging area. Employees receive either the $65.00 transit benefit or the parking connection benefit. How It Works: The Commuter Choice program can be provided as a direct benefit to employees, a pre-tax deduction, or as a shared expense. Employers may elect to provide employees with transit passes worth up to $65.00 per month, or depending upon the employer's size and budget subsidize a portion of the $65.00. In other words, your employer may provide you with an actual transit pass worth $65.00 each month, or pre-tax dollars can be deducted from your paycheck and then applied to a transit pass, or your employer may match your contribution to equal the $65.00 and provide the transit pass. Direct cash benefits to employees is not allowed under the IRS ruling for the Commuter Choice program unless transit passes and/or tokens are not readily available from local participating transit agencies. Important Things to Remember: Each employer will have a different structure to work within based upon internal tax structure, size, and effects of this program on existing employee-directed tax deferred plans, such as retirement accounts. If you have any questions about how you can further the discussion in your company about the Commuter Choice Program — contact TYTRAN at: tytran@aol.com and we will coordinate your comments and forward them directly to your Company's TYTRAN representative. Infrastructure Program Tyson Corner, with all of its amenities, and with access to major highway and secondary road systems, requires the involvement of the business community to maintain and improve the transportation system. TYTRAN responds to this formidable task by participating in numerous regional and state task forces to address specific issues; working to achieve project results through the legislative program; providing analysis and recommendations on proposed roadway improvements; and identifying new projects. Each month, TYTRAN holds meetings which are the forum for identifying transportation and transit problems and issues at the user level and elevating the issues to the appropriate regional implementation agency for action. These meetings also provide members the opportunity to elevate their concerns regarding transportation and traffic issues in and around their places of employment. Legislative Program A broad spectrum of transportation legislation is introduced each year that impacts the business community. To respond to this challenge, TYTRAN maintains a formal legislative program focusing on transportation issues and advocacy at all levels of government. TYTRAN monitors transportation legislation as it is introduced at the regional, state and federal level and determines its impact on area transportation improvements, the regional transportation system and TYTRAN program and services. Working with the TYTRAN Executive Committee and Board of Directors, positions are developed on legislation and specific concerns are conveyed to the appropriate legislative body. Through this legislative program, TYTRAN has consistently been a voice for action on transportation issues facing the Northern Virginia area.
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