King County Metro Transit is providing online "start-up" assistance for large and small companies that want to provide transportation benefits for their employees.

"Metro already works with about 600 major companies in King County to develop transportation programs that fit their particular worksite location or employee profile," said Metro General Manager Rick Walsh. "These employers have discovered that providing transportation benefits to employees – such as bus passes or subsidized vanpool rides – can cut costs by reducing parking overhead and reducing employee turnover."

Companies interested in exploring commute options for their employees can now get a variety of information at the Employer Commute Services section on the Metro Online Website. The site is designed to address questions employers might have when considering whether to offer transportation benefits, such as:

• What bus pass programs are available to employers?
• What is a voucher program?
• What kinds of tax benefits exist for both companies and workers?
• How does an employer start a commute benefit program?
• What options are there for employees who don't ride the bus?

Also, employers can find out if they are affected by the state’s Commute Trip Reduction Law and how to comply with the law's requirements.

Many employers find that commute benefits are a low-cost way to give employees added value either by subsidizing the cost of a bus pass or allowing the employee to buy a pass before taxes through payroll deduction. Pre-tax purchases save on payroll taxes for both employer and employee.

"We subsidize about half the cost of a monthly bus pass for our employees and give them the convenience of picking up their passes right at work," said Linda Stewart Marfo, the general manager at University Inn. "They love this program, and it's a great recruiting tool for prospective employees."