News
 |
 |
 |
|
CATMA E-Newsletters (2012, 2011) Click here to view CATMA's Spring 2013 E-Newsletter Click here to view CATMA's Winter 2013 E-Newsletter Click here to view CATMA's Fall 2012 E-Newsletter Click here to view CATMA's Summer 2012 E-Newsletter Click here to view CATMA's Spring 2012 E-Newsletter Click here to view CATMA's Winter 2012 E-Newsletter Click here to view CATMA's Fall 2011 E-Newsletter Click here to view CATMA's Summer 2011 E-Newsletter Click here to view CATMA's Spring 2011 E-Newsletter Click here to view CATMA's Winter 2011 E-Newsletter ....................................................................... Champlain College Environmental Progress & Future Plans by Christina Erickson CATMA Transitions to a Traditional TMA The Campus Area Transportation Management Association (CATMA), a 501(c)(3) member based non-profit organization, has announced the appointment of Sandy Thibault as Executive Director. On October 15, 2012, CATMA’s founding Director, Robert H. Penniman, will retire upon completing 24 years of service. CATMA is transitioning to a traditional TMA with a TDM (transportation demand management) specific role. CATMA provides sustainable customized TDM strategies, including travel options, incentives, personal assistance, education and information to its members, which encourage and help individuals modify their travel behavior and reduce single occupant vehicles. Click Here for press release Two-year Transportation Bill (MAP-21) signed into law on 7/6/12 Check out Webinar 10/25/12: The U.S Federal Highway Administration has released a new web page that includes commonly asked questions and answers regarding the legislation Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). MAP-21 is the first long-term highway authorization enacted since 2005. MAP-21 is the name of a 2-year transportation bill (FY13 & FY14) that includes an extension of existing law, SAFETEA-LU ending 9/30/12. MAP-21 includes a number of reforms and changes with funding flat over two years for a total of $105 billion. Thank you to ACT (Association for Commuter Transportation) and Jason Pavluchuk for the hard work and commitment in representing membership in this new legislation.
Transportation in Chittenden County - What Do We Need and How Do We Pay For It: CCTV Broadcast March 29, 2012 ....................................................................... ....................................................................... "THE CAR IS NO LONGER KING" - Sunday, March 6, 2011 Burlington Free Press story, click here. Announcement of the March 12 Bike-Walk Advocacy Gathering to be held at UVM North Billings Lounge with featured keynote speaker, Steve Miller of Boston's Livable Streets Alliance. ....................................................................... City of Burlington is awarded funding from HUD and DOT to help stimulate a new generation of sustainable and livable communities in Burlington, connect housing, employment and economic development with transportation and other infrastructure improvements. Click here for full story, October 21, 2010. CATMA In The NewsPress Release for CATMA and CarShare Vermont - annoucing a new mobility benefit, Click here. The Charlotte News features CATMA programs and member, Guy Franko!! Click here for news story. Smart Growth Vermont features CATMA. Click here for story. ....................................................................... Census Data Reveals Commuting Changes CATMA and your local and state transportation partners (Local Motion, CarShare VT, CCMPO, etc.) hosted a press conference Monday, February 1 to highlight changes in local transportation trends. Recent census data reveals that Chittenden County commuters are changing the way they get to work (think walking and biking, among other trends), and the collaborative efforts of many organizations and agencies helped make this happen. Click here for Channel 17 video of press conference Click here for Burlington Free Press article .................................................................. Yale's Smart Street ProgramWelcome to the Smart Streets Guide to Safety. This is where you'll learn to be a citizen of the streets, whether you are a pedestrian, a cyclist, a driver, or all three! Click on the link to launch! http://www.yale.edu/smartstreets/. ........................................................................ CCTV Channel 17 Shows Featuring CATMA SHOW 1: The press conference also provided several opportunities: A copy of the Press Release is available by clicking here. SHOW 2: ........................................................................ Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008: H.R. 1424 (bailout) bill signed into law by President Bush in October 2008 includes expanding the qualified transportation fringe benefits, Section 132(f), to allow up to $20.00 per month for bicycle commuters. Beginning in January 2009, the bill allows employers to reimburse employees who commute to work by bicycle for certain bicycle expenses. The reimbursements are excludable from an employee’s gross income.
Basically, most feel the bill was poorly written. The IRS has stated that they do not intend to issue formal guidance. Due to the amount of the benefit ($20/month) it’s too small of an issue for them to spend time on thus leaving it up to the individual to interpret. There is further debate as to whether the benefit can be offered as a pre-tax benefit, although most are believing that the bill as currently written, does not allow the benefit to be paid with pre-tax dollars. Additionally, if you receive a benefit for transit or parking, you are unable to receive the bike benefit‚ you cannot combine bike/transit or bike/parking. Taking the $20/month Bike Benefit disqualifies you from receiving any transit or parking subsidies. However, Congressmen Blumenauer & McGovern have introduced a technical corrections bill (H.R. 863) to clarify the pretax question and to amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow employees to receive transportation fringe benefits for the same month both in the form of transit passes and reimbursement of bicycle commuting expenses. Besides the confusion as to what exactly is considered a bicycle expense, there is confusion as to how the benefit would be paid. Is the benefit strictly a reimbursement and is there a need for a submission of receipts for costs incurred for bicycle commuting? Does an employer need to set up a cash reimbursement program where there is a mechanism for the employee to certify that they commute to work via bike at least 60% of the time making it their major mode? What constitutes a bicycle commuting expense? Purchase of a bike for commuting, bike maintenance, lock, helmet, fees for parking facilities and changing or shower facilities al l seem to qualify as reimbursable expenses, but what about a water bottle? These are all unanswered questions left up to an employer to decide. The League of American Bicyclists has produced a Frequently Asked Questions according to their understanding of the law. It can be found on their web site at http://www.bikeleague.org/news/100708faq.php. For now, it appears the CATMA Bike/Walk Reward Program offered to employees of the CATMA member institutions is a far better program for rewarding those who commute to work by bike. Stay tuned for more updates/clarification of details as they become available and please feel free to call the CATMA office at 656-RIDE with questions. |