 Greetings!
It has been an incredible year at the North Shore TMA! We have helped our member companies encourage their employees to use a shared or "green" commute. By biking, walking, taking the commuter rail or carpooling, these folks have saved over $55,000 in commuting costs and reduced miles driven in their cars by over 100,000 this year alone! I am thrilled about the success of our programs and I look forward to welcoming more members, introducing more programs and saving commuters more money in 2014.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season and best wishes for a happy, healthy and successful New Year!
Regards,
Andrea Leary
Executive Director
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Pre-tax Benefit for Transit and Vanpool to Decrease in 2014
Failure To Act has Consequences for Transit & Vanpool Riders
The failure of Congress to pass a bill that maintains the parity between pre-tax benefits for public transit passes and vanpool fares means a big decrease in the pre-tax amount vanpool and transit riders can deduct from their paycheck each month. Congress first enacted parity between pre-tax benefits for qualified parking and transit/vanpool fares in 2009. The Fiscal Cliff bill in early 2013 increased the transportation fringe benefit to $245 per month for qualified transit and vanpool fares and parking and was retroactive to January of 2012. The transit benefit parity sunsets today, December 31st and while there will be a modest increase in the pre-tax benefit for qualified parking (up by $5 to $250 per month), transit and vanpool riders will see their 2014 tax-free benefit slashed to $130 per month. The benefit to bike commuters for qualified expenses at $20 per month will remain unchanged.
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MBTA will test late weekend service Spring 2014
 Beginning in March or April of 2014, the MBTA will stay open late on Saturdays and Sundays until 3AM. This move is part of a one-year pilot announced by Governor Patrick earlier this month. The project will be funded in part by $20 Million in sponsorships pledged by the private sector. Full story.
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Who said commuting can't be fun AND lucrative?! If you commute to work at least two times per week using a shared or "green" method and you log it using o  ur Green to Work incentive program, you will automatically get entered to win a $25 gift card in a monthly drawing and a $100 gift card in a quarterly drawing. Participants in the Green to Work program are also eligible for the Guaranteed Ride Home service. For more information about our programs, please contact Al Marrone, the North Shore TMA Outreach Manager at almarronetma@gmail.com or 603-702-2156.
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Congratulations to Kathleen O'Donnell of Eastern Bank!
