FYI - Federal Transit Benefits Are Retroactive

Some good financial news comes in the latest news articles regarding Federal Transit Benefits being upped from $125/month in 2012 to $245/month in 2013 and clarifying retroactive payments for 2012.

"The bill Congress approved earlier this month to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff” included two key changes to these transit benefits. It increased the monthly cap while also noting that the benefits could be applied retroactively." (Washington Post)

The Examiner notes that "Transit riders will be able to receive even higher federal transit benefits -- and get back money for last year's transit costs."

"The $240 limit will be retroactively applied to 2012, replacing the $125 ceiling that was in place that year (before the bill was approved)." (Washington Post)

The IRS is instructing employers on how to accomodate this change so that employees can benefit. (See the IRS instructions in Notice 2013-8.)

MARC/VRE riders going the distance are most likely to benefit. "A monthly pass on VRE, for example, can cost as much as $294.10, while MARC trains can cost up to $350 a month."

 

Is MARC Really a PARTY Train?

Every year since 9/11/2001, I take time to remember those who lost their lives in such a public tragedy. Sometimes it’s as simple as changing my Desktop wallpaper to “The Flag Remains” photo. This year was no exception and even though we’ve past the 10^th anniversary, I expected the local media to do a somber tribute to the victims or detail the lingering emotional effects on DC workers and residents.

To my horror, the Washington Post Express free edition took a page out of Fox network’s play book. The 9/11/12 headline story entitled “Now Arriving: The Party” wasn’t even about the celebration of life after 9/11. It was about MARC riders who drink alcohol and eat their way home from work on a regular basis.

 

 

When we get to Page 9, with the inflammatory subheading, “High-Speed Happy Hour”, writer Ted Trautman continues to slant the article based on the behavior of the “three” people he interviewed. Even looking closely at the pictures of a half-empty train, I couldn’t help feel that despite his careful wording in the article, he created a misimpression of us all as cliquey passengers who are a bunch of drunks with munchies.

Mr. Trautman, was 9/11/12 really that slow a news day in the DC area?

MARC Passengers - Elbow to Elbow?

Did you happen to see the Washington Post article by Mark Berman (3/26/12) noting that MARC/MTA set records this February? MARC came in at a whopping "average weekday ridership of 35,210" which is up 6.1% from the same period last year.

This is timely because we are expecting MARC to release the next version of their proposed 2012 Brunswick Line schedule in the next couple weeks. Keep tuned for that!