Bus
Taking transit is a great way to turn your commute into a relaxing, economical and earth friendly method of transport. Commuter Resource Rhode Island has created various programs to help make commuting practical and affordable for people just like you.
Eco Pass Employee
Eco-Pass is an annual pass that provides unlimited bus, trolley, and flex route transportation service. It’s a way for employers to offer their employees a reduced cost transit benefit in the form of an unlimited ride pass.
The pass is a smart card that lets your employer subsidize your transit per ride. There’s no need to pick up fare every month as your card is automatically loaded.
To encourage more employers to participate in the Eco-Pass program, we offer them a reduced fare rate, the ability to distribute as many cards as they want and pay only for rides taken.
Any size company can participate and Commuter Resource Rhode Island provides on-site events and one-on-one trip planning for employees. We encourage you to reach out to learn more.
Eco Pass Employer
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority and Commuter Resource Rhode Island encourage you to offer your employees a reduced transit cost benefit by offering them Eco-Passes—prepaid electronic smart cards for use on RIPTA buses, trolleys, flex routes and any other public transportation service in Rhode Island.
Eco-Pass can:
- Reduce demand for employer provided parking
- Reduce costs associated with providing leased parking
- Allow flexibility to convert employee provided parking into customer parking
- Fulfill corporate “Green” initiatives
- Reduce payroll taxes via pre-tax transit benefit
Eco-Passes are a simple way for you to offer your employees a benefit that has a positive impact on both the environment and your bottom line. Employers pay a reduced fare rate, distribute as many cards as they want, and pay only for the rides taken. There are no implementation costs and administrative assistance and technical support are free.
A representative from CRRI will come and speak to your group about the program and how it works and will also help your employees with one-on-one trip planning.
Parking Cash Out
State law requires that employers who provide subsidized parking for their employees must offer a free RIPTA transit pass in lieu of a parking space.
This law is called the parking cash-out program. The intent of the law is to reduce vehicle commute trips and emissions by offering employees the option of “cashing out” their subsidized parking spaces and taking transit to work for free.
Parking Cash Out applies to employers who meet the following criteria:
- Located within 1/4 of a mile of a RIPTA bus line
- Have 50 or more employees
- Have leased parking
- Subsidize employee parking by paying the cost and allowing the employee free or reduced-rate parking
Parking Cash Out has many benefits for both employers and employees alike. For employers, it can:
- Reduce the demand for employee parking
- Reduce costs associated with leased parking. (A transit pass is frequently a less expensive benefit than a parking space.)
- Allow for flexibility to convert employee parking to customer parking
- Reduce traffic on local roadways
- Create good public relations with employees and the community
The benefits for employees include:
- Saving money on gas
- Free RIPTA transit passes for those who give up their parking spot
- Relief from the stress of driving in traffic
- Free time on the bus to read, relax or even get some work done
Pre Tax Benefits
Did you know that the federal tax code allows tax-free transportation fringe benefits of up to $260 per month per employee for transit expenses?
Employers can either pay the cost of the tax-free transportation fringe benefit, allow employees to reserve income on a pre-tax basis to cover the cost, or share the cost between employer and employee.
Providing commuter tax benefits to employees can save payroll taxes for employers since the value of the benefit paid to employees is considered a tax-free transportation fringe benefit, and not wage or salary compensation, so payroll taxes do not apply.
Employers can set up their own accounting procedures, or use a third party administrator to supply this tax-free benefit. They can also provide up to $260 a month to their employees as a tax-free benefit to commute by transit or vanpool, pay the commuting cost, or allow employees to use their own salary on a pre-tax basis to purchase transit or vanpool services.
Wageworks and Commuter Checks are two popular programs used by Rhode Island employers to offer these benefits.
Park & Ride
Park & Rides are strategically located parking lots, either privately or state owned, that are free of charge to anyone who parks a vehicle and commutes by transit or in a carpool. These lots are unattended, so be sure your vehicle and belongings are secure.
For Park & Ride service to Providence schedule information, call RIPTA at 781-9400 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Other Transit
- Peter Pan: Peter Pan has three convenient terminals. The main terminal is located at One Bonanza Way in Providence, but it also stops at RI Convention Center and T.F. Green Airport.
- Greyhound: Travelers can catch a Greyhound bus at RI Convention Center.