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Benefits for Employers

For employers, having a corporate incentive program to recruit and retain quality employees helps keep productivity and morale high. Employees that ride the bus to work arrive on time and less stressed after their leisurely bus commute. And the IRS gives businesses a tax break  if the business pays all or part of the cost of the bus pass for employees.

Reduce your capital costs

VIA works with over 100 local employers who are encouraging their workers to ride the bus. Some of these companies are getting involved so they can save on infrastructure costs. More workers riding the bus means fewer cars that need parking spaces during work times, and that also means less the employer must spend on new parking lots or garages and on maintenance of existing facilities.

Employers can save money in other ways

When you subsidize some portion of your employees’ ride to work on public transportation you are eligible for tax breaks. 

• Deducting costs for providing transit passes, vouchers, tickets, or even cash to your employees to pay for public transportation
• Avoiding payroll taxes by offering payroll deductions for transit commuter benefits
• Not paying for parking subsidies, if offered as an employee benefit

Other reasons to act now

• Existing employees are looking for relief from the parking and transportation frustrations
• You want to hire and keep the best in a very competitive job market
• In 2008, new air quality standards will be released. If San Antonio is found to be in non-attainment, the impact to the community will be significant.
• Everyone needs to do their part to relive congestion and help keep our air clean.