The Sierra Club - Washington, DC Chapter has endorsed the Transportation Benefits Equity Act, commonly known as "parking cash-out." This bill would make the District one of a few jurisdictions nationally that fulfill the Club's goal (as articulated in the Energy Resources Policy) that "Parking costs should be efficiently and conveniently unbundled to give consumers and employees more control over how they choose to spend their money."
Chapter member Ryan Crowley shared his thoughts on the bill with Councilmember Jack Evans:
Dear Councilmember Evans,
On behalf of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Sierra Club and as a Ward 2 constituent, I am writing to urge you to support B22-175, the Transportation Benefits Equity Act. As I'm sure you're aware, the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Sierra Club is a grassroots environmental organization whose 10,000 members and supporters are working to combat climate change by shifting away from fossil fuels and moving toward a clean energy economy. According to the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment, about a quarter of the District’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. The vast majority of that comes from automobiles. To tackle climate change locally, we must encourage people to use transit, biking and walking to commute to work.
A growing percentage of Washingtonians are choosing to walk, bicycle or take public transit to work. However, most employer transportation benefits can only be used by those who commute by automobile. The Transportation Benefits Equity Act would provide workers greater flexibility. The bill would require businesses that offer a subsidized parking benefit to provide a comparable benefit to employees who choose not to drive to work. Specifically, employees who commute by public transportation would receive an employer-paid transit benefit equal to the value of the parking benefit. Cyclists would receive a maximum of $20 a month reimbursement for commuting expenses and taxable cash up to the value of the parking benefit. Those who walk to work would receive taxable cash up to the value of the parking benefit. The Transportation Benefits Equity Act would provide numerous positive outcomes. Studies of similar employer proposals show a 10-12% decrease in the number of lone-driver commute trips, potentially relieving road congestion, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.
Eighteen percent of Washingtonians walk or bike to work and if provided a cash incentive to do so, the number could increase. The Transportation Benefits Equity Act would not force employers to offer a benefit they do not already offer, it would simply give employees more flexibility in how that benefit can be used. By incentivizing alternatives to commuting by automobile, we can cut greenhouse gas emissions, encourage healthy activity, and potentially provide a transit cash infusion that our Metro system desperately needs.
Thank you for your consideration,
Ryan Crowley
Other Chapter members who wish to take action and contact their councilmembers can do so by signing this online petition.