Hultgren Reiterates Need For Transit Parity In Infrastructure Legislation

Congressman Randy Hultgren
April 17, 2012

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today reiterated the importance of restoring tax parity for mass transit commuters in any infrastructure legislation.

“Confronted with the enormous cost of traffic congestion - $100 billion per year in delays and wasted fuel – it’s clear that now is not the time to discourage commuters from using mass transit,” said Hultgren, a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “Yet current tax policy does exactly that, giving Americans a greater incentive to drive to work than take a bus, train, subway, or other form of mass transit. This inequitable situation is simply bad public policy, and I hope that Congress recognizes this fact. Any final infrastructure bill should reestablish parity between transit and parking benefits, and give Americans an even playing field when they determine how best to get to work.”

Hultgren recently led a bipartisan letter signed by 34 other members of Congress urging Congressional leaders to restore transit parity in any long-term surface transportation reauthorization bill.

“I am encouraged by the efforts that Congressman Hultgren and other Representatives are taking to restore parity between pre-tax transit and parking commuter benefits,” said Metra CEO and Executive Director Alex Clifford. “Given the tough economic times and rising costs of commuting to and from work, this benefit is vital to Metra riders now more than ever.”

Tomorrow, the House is scheduled to consider legislation providing a 90-day extension of current infrastructure programs as well as mandating construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Construction of the Keystone XL pipeline would create 20,000 jobs and reduce American reliance on oil from unfriendly sources.