BAAQMD Public Hearing – proposed Regulation 14: Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Measures, Rule 1: Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program

• Option 1: Pre-tax option: Allow employees to exclude their transit or vanpooling costs from taxable wages, consistent with Section 132(f) of the Internal Revenue Code;
• Option 2: Employer-provided subsidy: A transit or vanpool subsidy to reduce or cover employees’ monthly transit/vanpool costs, to a maximum of $75 per month;
• Option 3: Employer-provided transit: a free or low-cost shuttle, vanpool or bus service, operated by or for the employer; or
• Option 4: An alternative commuter benefit that would be as effective as the other options in reducing drive-alone commuter trips (and/or vehicle emissions).

In addition to providing one of the commuter benefit options described above, employers would be required to register by means of a web-based registration process, designate a contact person, notify employees of the commuter benefit selected, maintain records to document implementation of the commuter benefit, and provide information needed for purposes of Program evaluation. If the Air District Board of Directors adopts the proposed rule and the MTC Commissioners concur with this action, then employers would have six months from the effective date of the rule to select one of the commuter benefit options and comply with the requirements of the Program.

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code § 21000 et seq.), an initial study for the proposed rule has been conducted, concluding that the proposed rule would not have significant adverse environmental impacts. Notice is hereby given that the Air District intends to adopt a negative declaration for the amendments pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080(c) and California CEQA Guidelines section 15070 et seq.

The proposed rule (Regulation 14, Rule 1), a staff report, a socio-economic analysis, a CEQA environmental analysis and draft Negative Declaration are available on the District website at: http://www.baaqmd.gov/Divisions/Planning-and-Research/Rule-Development/Current-Regulatory-Public-Hearings.aspx.

Comments on the proposed rule, the supporting documents, and the draft Negative Declaration may be directed to David Burch, Principal Environmental Planner, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 939 Ellis Street, San Francisco, California, 94109, or via e-mail to commuterbenefits@baaqmd.gov. Written comments on the regulatory proposal and Negative Declaration will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2014.