More Commuters Finding Relief from Rising Mass Transit Fares, Reports TransitCenter

Recent Boost in Tax-Free Commuter Benefits Saving Commuters Up to $1,000 Per
Year or More

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Thousands of employees are finding a new way to reduce their commuting costs
despite a new round of transit fare hikes around the country. Hidden in the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- enacted on February 17, 2009 -- was a
major increase in the amount of tax-free income that employees can use to pay
for their transit commutes, from $120 to $230 per month. TransitCenter, Inc., a
nonprofit that promotes mass transit use in order to reduce traffic congestion
and improve air quality, reports a 34 percent rise in the number of new
companies who have implemented the benefit and a 25 increase in employee
enrollments since the monthly amount was increased.

As the economic recession continues to reduce the funds available for transit
operations, transit agencies around the country are having to increase fares to
make up the shortfalls. Mass transit fares have increased between 10 and 22
percent in at least eight major metropolitan areas since the beginning of the
year. Five additional cities are now holding hearings on their own mass transit
fare hikes.

"This is a difficult time for many workers who depend on transit to commute to
work or who seek an alternative to the high cost of driving. That`s why the
increase in the transit benefit could not have come at a better time," said
Larry Filler, president and CEO of TransitCenter, which had advocated for the
expansion of the tax-free commuter benefits provision. "With potential savings
of $1,000 a year, employees are able to keep more of their income that they can
use to help with the rising cost of other essentials."

Filler added, "Businesses who haven`t yet enrolled in a commuter benefits
program have an opportunity to sign up and help their employees save more of
their income despite these fare hikes -- while also reaping tax savings for
their companies that make the program cost-neutral to implement." According to
TransitCenter`s research, 67 percent of employees believe that companies should
take an active role in easing the emerging difficulties of commuting.

TransitCenter has set up an online calculator to help individuals estimate the
savings that can be garnered from taking advantage of a commuter benefits
program. The calculator is available at
http://transitcenter.com/Employees/Save.aspx. Additional tools and resources are
available at http://exercisetheright.com/, a special site that TransitCenter has
set up to help consumers and human resources executives with the expanded
benefit.

About Tax-Free Commuter Benefits

Tax-free commuter benefits can be structured as an employee-funded tax-free
payroll deduction; as an employer-funded benefit; or the costs can be shared by
employer and employee. The benefit can be delivered in the form of transit
provider-specific passes, universally accepted vouchers and terminal-restricted
debit cards, or through a reimbursement model under specific conditions defined
by the IRS.

Previously, employers were allowed under Section 132(f) of the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) Code to let their employees use up to $120 per month of their
pretax income to pay for their transit or vanpool commuting expenses and up to
$230 per month for commuter parking. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
amended the IRS Code to set the monthly tax-free contribution limit for
transit/vanpool to a maximum of $230 per month.

About TransitCenter, Inc.

TransitCenter is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate for
greater use of mass transit in order to reduce traffic congestion and improve
air quality. TransitCenter engages in a wide variety of activities in support of
transit. We are the pioneer and leading national provider of tax-free commuter
benefits through our TransitChek programs. We advocate at the federal, state and
local levels for the greater use of and support for transit. Through education
and awareness activities, we also promote the essential benefits of transit,
foremost among them making communities better places - and more sustainable
places -- to work and live.

Makovsky + Company
Jonathan Blank, 212-508-9615
jblank@makovsky.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009