One important federal transportation issue that MAPC has been working on in the past year is/was the disparity between commuter tax benefits for those who drive and those who take public transportation.
Beginning on January 1, 2012, commuters who drive (and park) could claim up to $240 per month in tax deductions, while commuters who use public transportation could claim only $125 per month, whereas in previous years those deductions has been equal.
Now, as part of the “fiscal cliff” deal, these benefits have been equalized once again for 2013, and retroactively to 2012. While the provision went relatively unnoticed, it is a significant policy change, and one strongly and actively supported by MAPC and its allies including Transportation for America, and Congressman McGovern of Massachusetts–the House champion of this provision.
Nice to see a win for public transit as we start off 2013!
–Charlie Ticotsky, MAPC Government Affairs Coordinator
Photo of Orangle Line MBTA train courtesy of Steve Garfield via Flickr