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in the Lloyd District 1. Employee Commute Option (ECO) Rule Goal: The goal of the ECO Rule is to improve air quality in the region by reducing commute trips. (More than 50% of air pollution is caused by vehicle emissions.) This rule is part of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) regional air quality plan that helps the region comply with the Federal Clean Air Act. The ECO Rule requires employers in the Lloyd District which have a total of 50 or more people at any one work site to implement programs which will encourage their employees to use alternatives to driving alone in order to reduce the number of auto trips taken to the work site. In the Lloyd District, you are exempt from complying with the ECO Rule if:
For more detailed information about your specific site, call the Lloyd District TMA at 236-6441.
2. Business Energy Tax Credit Lloyd District employers can now get a state tax credit for purchasing transit passes (and the PASSPort) for their employees. The tax credit is 35 percent of eligible project costs, taken over five years: 10 percent in the first and second years and 5 percent each remaining year. Please see the attached Fact Sheet from the Oregon Office of Energy for more details. 3. TEA-21 -- Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century TEA-21 is the new transportation act approved by the federal government. This new legislation "allows employers to provide transit benefits in lieu of existing compensation." This means that employees can pay for the cost of a transit pass using pre-tax dollars, or the employer can subsidize all or part of the pass and receive a tax benefit.
If the employee does payroll deduction to pay for a transit pass with pre-tax dollars, TEA-21:
If the employer subsidizes a transit pass as an employee benefit, TEA-21:
Please consult a certified public accountant or a tax attorney for more details about taking advantage of the TEA-21 program. If you would like general information, contact Marissa Tipton at Tri-Met, 239-6474.
In 1998, Governor John Kitzhaber issued an Executive Order for state agencies, requiring each agency to reduce the number of vehicle miles travelled by state employees. In the Lloyd District, the State of Oregon building responded by adding new bicycle parking facilities and promoting its shower and changing facilities. Many state agencies decided to participate in the PASSPort program which provides an annual transit pass at a discounted rate. For more information about how state agencies can comply with this Executive Order, please e-mail the Lloyd District TMA ldtma@teleport.com |
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