Book Description

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed federal participation in state and local transportation benefit programs, focusing on the: (1) extent of participation; (2) cost and funding mechanisms; and (3) effect of federal participation on commuting behavior. GAO found that: (1) as of 1993, 75 executive, legislative, judicial, and independent federal agencies and organizations have participated in mass transit benefit programs located in the 25 largest metropolitan areas; (2) although most participating agencies provide a $21-per-month employee benefit, the Department of Transportation and three smaller agencies provide a $60-per-month benefit; (3) employee and agency program participation rates are affected by the program's overall cost and accessibility to public transportation; (4) 21 percent of the 18,500 eligible employees who are receiving public transit benefits have changed their primary means to work from drive-alone, carpool, and other means to public transportation because of transit benefit availability; (5) 75 percent of program participants already use public transportation as their primary commuting source; (6) if employee transit benefits are increased to $60 per month, employee participation rates could increase up to 49 percent; (7) participating federal agencies are expected to spend between $8 million and $10 million on transit benefits in fiscal year 1993; (8) budget reductions could affect the continuation of existing programs, even at the $21-per-month benefit level; (9) Congress needs to examine the various funding options available to reauthorize transit programs including funding the program through existing resources or direct congressional appropriations; and (10) federal agencies need to strengthen transit program management and administrative controls and eligibility criteria.