Commuters May Need To Dig Deeper If Congress Fails To Renew Transit Tax Credit
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It's been a bad year for commuters and if you rely on mass transit it's only expected to get worse as a federal transit tax credit is set to expire at the end of the year.
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The credit currently allows commuters to set aside $230 a month in pre-tax dollars.
If Congress fails to take action before Jan. 1, the same day that toll hikes are set to go into effect on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, the credit will automatically be reduced to $125 a month forcing commuters to pay more money out of pocket.
"I'm confident it will be renewed," South Orange resident Rob Cole told CBS 2's Jay Dow. "It's typically a year-end item that Congress renews at the last minute."
Commuters said they find it ironic that just as the transit tax credit expires, the federal parking benefit is set to increase next year by $10 a month.
NJ TRANSIT says one in five of its daily riders take advantage of federal pre-tax programs.
Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a commuter advocacy group, said it's currently working with New Jersey lawmaker to get the transit tax credit renewed into 2012.
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