HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.l. Implement Option 4B under Bay Area Commuter Benefit ProgramCentral Contra Costa Sanitary District
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: September 4, 2014
subject: APPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BAY AREA COMMUTER
BENEFITS PROGRAM
Submitted By. Initiating Dept. /Div.:
Roger S. Bailey Administration /Human Resources
General Manager
REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED FOR BOARD ACTION :`
D. Heath — Director of Administration T. O'Malley — Human Resources Manager s. Bauer Manager
ISSUE: Board approval is needed to implement the Bay Area Commuter Benefits
Program ( BACBP).
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the implementation of Option 4B of the Bay Area
Commuter Benefits Program by September 30, 2014.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS: This action will result in a minimal cost.
ALTERNATIVES /CONSIDERATIONS: None, as this action is necessary to comply
with the mandate set forth in Senate Bill 1339 and as adopted by the Bay Area Air
Quality Management District ( BAAQMD) and the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission (MTC).
BACKGROUND: Senate Bill 1339, signed into law in late 2012, authorizes the Bay
Area Air Quality Management District ( BAAQMD) and the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission (MTC) to adopt and implement a regional commuter benefits program on a
pilot basis through December 2016.
In March of 2014, the MTC and the BAAQMD both approved the launch of the Bay
Area Commuter Benefits Program ( BACBP), a joint pilot program that requires
employers with 50 or more full -time employees in the Bay Area to offer commuter
benefits to their employees. Employers subject to the program must select a commuter
benefit and implement their program by September 30, 2014.
The BACBP is modeled after other commuter benefit programs that have been
established in recent years by several Bay Area employers, including the City of San
Francisco, the City of Richmond, the City of Berkeley, and the San Francisco
International Airport.
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: September 4, 2014
Subject: APPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BAY AREA COMMUTER
BENEFITS PROGRAM
The BACBP promotes the use of alternative commute modes such as transit,
ridesharing, bicycling, and walking. The intent of the BACBP is to decrease motor
vehicle travel and traffic congestion and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and
other air pollutants, thus protecting public health and the climate.
The BACBP requires that employers implement at least one of the following options by
September 30, 2014:
• Option 1: Pre -Tax Benefit: The employer allows employees to exclude their
transit or vanpool costs from taxable income, to the maximum extent permitted
by federal law (currently a maximum of $130 per month).
• Option 2: Employer- Provided Subsidy: The employer provides a transit or
vanpool subsidy to cover or reduce the employee's monthly transit or vanpool
costs, to a maximum of $75 per month.
• Option 3: Employer- Provided Transit: The employer provides a free or low -cost
bus, shuttle, or vanpool service for employees.
• Option 4: Alternative Commuter Benefit: The employer provides an alternative
commuter benefit that is as effective as the other options in reducing single-
occupant vehicle trips and /or vehicle emissions.
Option 4 is split further into two Options, 4A- Primary Measures and 413- Secondary
measures (see table below for the list of measures). If an employer were to choose
Option 4A, it would have to select at least one primary measure and at least two
secondary measures. If it were to choose Option 413, it would have to select at least
four secondary measures.
Primary Measures,
Secondary, Measures
• Carpool subsidy ($3 /day that
• Preferred parking for carpoolers
employee carpools)
• Provide employer- specific carpool
• Bicycle subsidy ($20 /month)
match service
• Telecommute schedule
• Employer - provided membership in
• Compressed workweek
car - sharing program
• Parking Cash -Out
• Participation in an emergency/
• Electronic vehicle (EV)
guaranteed ride home program
implementation (fleet changeover,
• Secure, on -site bicycle parking
EV car share for employees, etc.)
• Showers and bicycle lockers for
employees
• Employee commuting awards
program (e.g., bonus vacation day,
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POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: September 4, 2014
Subject APPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BAY AREA COMMUTER
BENEFITS PROGRAM
free lunch, gift card, etc.)
• On -site amenity (e.g., ATM, cafe,
catered lunch, on -site childcare, dry
cleaning, etc.)
• Provision of shared mechanism for
viewing real time commuting
information (e.g., flat screen
monitor in lobby)
• Lunchtime shuttle
Staff recommends that the Board approve the implementation of Option 413, as it is the
most cost - effective and operationally viable option at this time. The four secondary
measures being recommended for approval are as follows:
• Preferred parking for carpoolers
• Participation in an emergency /guaranteed ride home program
• Secure, on -site bicycle parking
Showers and bicycle lockers for employees
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: This matter was discussed at the Administration
Committee meeting on August 19, 2014 and the Committee recommended Board
approval of Option 4B.
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION: Approve the implementation of Option 4B of the
Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program by September 30, 2014.
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