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From YouTube: Committee on Commerce and Economic Development 5-23-2022
Description
The Committee on Commerce & Economic Development of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Monday, May 23, 2022 to hear testimony on the following item:
220337
An Ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions,” by adding a new Chapter, entitled “Employee Commuter Transit Benefit Programs,” to require certain employers to provide a mass transit and bicycle commuter benefit program, under certain terms and conditions.
B
B
Due
to
the
continuing
threat
of
public
health
from
coven
19
city
council
committees
are
currently
meeting
remotely.
We
are
using
micro
force,
t
microsoft
teams
to
make
these
remote
hearings
possible
instructions
for
how
the
public
may
view
and
offer
public
testimony
of
public
hearings
of
council
committees
are
included
in
the
public
hearing
notice
that
are
published
in
the
daily
news,
inquirer
and
legal
intelligencer
prior
to
the
hearings
and
can
also
be
found
on
phl
counsel,
dot
com.
B
C
B
B
Thank
you
before
we
begin
to
hear
testimony
from
the
witnesses
we
have
for
today.
Everyone
who
has
been
invited
to
the
meeting
testify
should
be
aware
that
this
public
hearing
is
being
recorded
because
because
the
hearing
is
a
public
participation
and
viewers
have
no
reasonable
expectation
of
privacy.
B
By
continuing
to
be
in
the
meeting,
you
are
consenting
to
being
recorded
additionally
prior
to
recognizing
members
for
the
questions
or
comments
they
have
for
witnesses.
I
will
know
for
the
record
at
this
time
that
we
will
use
the
chat
feature
available
on
microsoft
teams
to
allow
members
to
signify
that
they
wish
to
be
recognized
in
order
to
comply
with
the
sunshine
act,
and
the
chat
feature
must
only
be
used
for
this
purpose
before
we
call
the
panels
council.
Member
kim
would
like
to
make
a
statement
before
we
start.
G
G
Bill
220-337
has
actually
been
in
the
works
for
many
months
in
partnership
with
the
administration
and
otis
and,
most
importantly,
with
the
full
support
of
nine
council
members,
including
six
on
this
commerce
committee
council
members,
squilla,
gautier,
green
johnson,
gilmore,
richardson
brooks
as
well
as
council
members,
parker
and
thomas.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
partnership
and
support.
G
As
you
know,
all
of
us
are
deeply
in
invested
in
a
healthier
public
transit
system
and
a
more
economically
just
city.
I
was
glad
to
work
with
septa
earlier
last
year
in
helping
develop
the
institutional
pass
program
which
has
brought
more
than
7
500
new
riders
onto
septa,
and
this
commuter
benefits
bill
is
yet
another
step
forward
for
our
city
and
a
creative
way
to
change
the
transportation
status
quo.
G
G
In
a
time
when
so
many
philadelphians
are
hurting
economically,
this
bill
provides
wage
tax
relief
and
allows
employees
to
actually
take
advantage
of
a
federally
guaranteed
tax
benefit
that
is
so
often
overlooked
or
sacrificed
on
most
taxpayer
forms.
Additionally,
there's
no
question
that
bringing
in
new
riders
onto
philadelphia's
public
transit
system
is
critical
both
to
our
city's
recovery
and
to
boost
safety.
This
program
will
make
our
transit
system
more
accessible
to
all
philadelphians,
and
we
know
that
a
busier
transit
system
is
a
safer
transit
system.
G
So
I
see
this
legislation
as
critical
to
our
ongoing
work
on
this
body,
for
economic
justice,
for
boosting
the
environment
and
to
our
vision,
zero
commitments,
decreasing
emissions
and
traffic
congestion
will
help
our
communities
breathe,
easier.
Cutting
transit
costs
for
riders
by
anywhere
from
12
to
32
percent,
provides
economic
relief
and
supporting
septa
is
supporting
philadelphia.
G
G
The
amended
language
will
make
clear
that
the
provision
will
only
apply
if
and
when
and
after
these
benefits
are
federally
authorized
into
the
irs
tax
code.
They
are
not
currently,
but
are
part
of
president
biden's
buildback
better
package.
It
also
clarifies
that
these
benefits
would
be
would
be
provided
through
the
standard
method
of
pre-tax
payroll
deduction.
It
is
not
a
reimbursement.
G
G
For
your
important
additions
to
the
bill,
I
want
to
extend
a
sincere
thanks,
especially
to
all
those
who
have
spent
the
time
today,
to
come
here
to
testify
on
behalf
of
this
legislation
and
to
talk
about
helping
build
a
more
economically
just
and
a
healthier
city
and
a
healthier
transit
system
for
all.
Thank
you
very
much,
mr
chair.
H
Again,
my
name
is
michael
carroll:
I'm
the
deputy
managing
director
for
the
office
of
transportation,
infrastructure
and
sustainability
otis,
as
well
as
a
septa
board
member.
I'm
joined
today
by
my
colleague,
director
of
policy
and
strategic
initiatives,
christopher
pohalski,
I'm
here
today
to
offer
testimony
in
support
of
bill
220-337.
H
This
bill
would
require
large
and
medium-sized
employers
in
the
city
of
philadelphia
to
offer
their
employees
the
ability
to
pay
for
transit
fares
pre-tax.
This
policy
is
good
for
employees,
for
employers
and
the
city
as
a
whole.
Employees
can
save
between
138
and
540
dollars
per
year
by
pre-taxing
their
transit
pass.
H
The
employers
say
by
not
having
to
pay
payroll
taxes
on
this
amount
and
collectively
I
should
add,
this
benefit-
will
make
the
city
a
more
competitive
place
to
attract
employees.
Relatives
who
peers,
who
cannot
claim
this
benefit
the
city
wins
by
encouraging
more
transit
ridership,
which
benefits
all
of
us.
Similar
programs
have
been
successfully
implemented
in
a
number
of
places,
such
as
new
york
city,
washington,
d.c.
The
whole
state
of
new
jersey
and
several
cities
on
the
west
coast,
including
seattle,
san
francisco
and,
as
I
understand
los
angeles
as
well.
H
D
Thank
you,
mr
chair
and
good
morning,
mr
carol
have
employers
brought
to
our
attention
any
potential
issues
or
on
the
implementation
on
this
bill,
and
we
really
want
sep
to
get
more
riders
and
we're
all
in
favor
of
this,
but
just
wondering
if
we
can
make
it
easier
for
the
employers
to
get
on
board.
No
pun
intended.
H
That's
funny
yeah
I'll,
certainly
chris
weigh
in
and
council.
Member
again,
you
know
has
been
a
strong
advocate
in
building
these
conversations
up
over
the
last
few
months
and
we
have
not
heard
any
strong
opposition
from
folks.
I
think
there
was
some
concern
as
we
introduced
this
and
started
our
work
many
months
ago,
that
people
wanted
to
learn
more
we're
very
fortunate
in
the
fact
that
septa
was
able
to
implement
their
own
institutional
past
program
which
would
qualify
under
this
bill.
H
I
Yeah
I'll
just
have
that
there's
several
providers
in
the
benefits
marketplace
that
provide
this
benefit
and
I
think
we've
heard
some
ideas
about
how
we
could
streamline
that
process
with
the
different
providers
which
we're
happy
to
work
with.
But
we've
not
heard
any
significant
issues
from
the
business
community.
Okay,.
D
H
Ultimately,
it
would
end
up
as
an
issue
that
would
have
to
be
brought
to
law
department,
but
there's
a
pretty
drawn
out
process
which
includes,
essentially
employees,
registering
complaints
with
the
city
us
you
know
basically
giving
a
warning
and
then
there's
another
time
period
after
that
to
see
some
level
implementation,
the
there's
a
good
amount
of
time
between
now
and
the
end
of
the
year
for
people
to
stand
up
the
systems.
There's
lots
of
great
models
out
there,
like
chris,
has
explained
so
we're
here
to
help.
H
D
Two
more
quick
questions
for
you:
the
bill,
I
think,
in
its
current
form,
says
that
it's
for
employees
to
be
covered.
They
have
to
work
at
least
30
hours
a
week
on
average
over
the
past
12
months.
So
does
that
mean
this
would
be
a
benefit
for
employees
who
would
get
access
to
only
after
working
in
the
same
place
for
a
year
or
could
they
get
it
right
away?.
I
Yeah
they
could
get
it
right
away.
The
covered
employees
is
to
determine
whether
the
business
falls
into
this
category,
but
if
it
falls
into
this
category,
then
they
could
get
it
right
away
and
then
there's
nothing
to
stop
a
business
that
is
under
the
threshold
from
offering
this
benefit.
It's
just
not.
You
know
part
of
the
mandate
that
this
bill
would
include.
D
H
D
G
Yeah,
first
of
all,
thank
you
mike
and
chris
for
your
partnership
and
your
patience
on
this.
You
know
for
my
colleagues,
you
know
we
have
been
working
on
this
for
quite
a
while,
and
we
have
been
working
on
it
very
closely
with
septa
actually
to
make
sure
that
the
partnership
and
the
timing
of
the
legislation
was
appropriate,
and
so
we
have
a
lot
of
back
and
forth
with
septa
mike
you're
on
the
board
correct.
H
G
And
I
do
want
to
assure
my
colleagues
that
you
know
we've
had
extensive
dialogue
with
septa
as
well.
You
know
regarding
council
member
dom's
earlier
question
and
I
think
stacey
bartels
will
speak
to
this
later,
but
this
the
the
offering
of
what's
effectively
like
a
flex
benefits
program,
is
offered
by
hundreds
of
employers.
Would
you
is
that
right?
Mr
carroll,
I
mean
in
our
general
discussions
and
in
dialogue
that
we've
had
at
least
many
many
employers
already
offer
a
flex
benefits
program,
and
then
this
would
be
expanding.
G
Okay
and
then-
and
I
think
we're
gonna-
continue
to
have
ongoing
conversations
with
with
our
different
business.
Folks-
and
I
appreciate
mike
your
emphasis
on
you
know,
seeing
this
really
as
a
benefits
and
an
expansion
of
benefits,
as
opposed
to
like,
as
you
said,
you
know
a
punitive
program
or
one
that
we're
chasing
everybody
down.
We
we
think
that
employers
will
embrace
this.
G
F
F
H
What
are
you
gonna
do
for
me
and
that
could
motivate
the
conversation
for
those
folks
voluntarily
to
jump
into
these
programs,
and
maybe
those
communities
will
be
thinking
about
that
as
well.
But
you
know
we
do
support
reverse
commuting.
You
know
in
our
budget
and
that's
that's
a
direct
support,
but
I
think
there's
gonna
be
an
indirect
benefit.
If
you
ask
me.
F
E
Thank
you,
mr
chair.
Thank
you
councilman
again
for
this
point.
Legislation
miss
carroll.
Thank
you,
mr
pakulski.
Thank
you
for
being
here
and
supported
legislation.
Mr
kyle,
you
said
something
in
response
to
councilmember
jones
question
about
reverse
commuting
that
the
administration
supports
reverse
commuting.
E
Yes,
I
would
just
want
to
confirm
that,
because
every
year
during
the
budget
process,
buildup
unemployment
project
is
always
requesting
more
money
for
that
initiative,
at
least
maintaining,
because
those
dollars
are
matched
to
help
people
in
the
city
of
philadelphia
get
two
jobs.
Now
previously
I,
if
I'm
correct,
I
remember
the
men's.
The
mayor
in
particular,
I
had
raised
some
concerns
about
that,
but
I
hope,
based
on
your
commentary,
that
you'll
be
supporting
them
at
at
least
the
current
level,
if
not
more
going
forward
in
the
budget
process.
F
I
you
know
there
is
one
constituent
in
my
entire
district
that
has
one
budgetary
concern
and
it
is
reverse,
commute
that's
lueger
up
in
the
21st
ward.
He
is
such
a
strong
proponent
of
that
small,
it's
a
relatively
small
appropriation,
but
he
fights
for
it
every
year.
So
let
me
put
that
on
the
record.
G
Thank
you
so
much,
mr
chair,
you
know
again
to
council
member
jones's
point,
and
I
think
mike
said
this
pretty
well,
but
I
I
think
this
is
a
common
sense
bill
and
it
is
our
hope
that
it
spreads
across
the
state
and
certainly
across
the
region,
we'll
be.
If
this
council
body
is
able
to
pass
this,
we
will
be
presenting
it
to
the
members
of
the
septa
board.
G
G
It's
you
know,
wage
tax
relief,
it's
supporting
septa,
so
our
hope
will
be
that
we
are
able
to
be
a
catalyst
to
see
this
and
then,
in
that
particular
case.
As
you
know,
the
commuter
benefits
legislation
would
include
van
pooling
and
includes
a
whole
host
of
expenses.
So
commuting
costs
are
significant,
especially
now
with
gas
prices,
and
you
know.
I
think
that
if,
if
we
do
this
right
and
are
able,
and
all
of
us
can
be
ambassadors
to
other
counties,
I
think
we
could
see
this
really
spread
across
the
state.
B
C
B
J
J
Many
residents
own
a
car
but
can
can
still
get
to
work
by
transit
because
they
need
the
car
for
their
other
activities.
This
leads
to
people
who
could
use
transit
to
get
to
work,
but
can't
because
it's
an
extra
cost
on
top
of
the
car
already.
This
ensures
that
residents
have
to
pay
more
for
maintenance
and
gas
on
their
cars
while
not
giving
transit
a
try.
J
This
is
the
unfortunate
effect
of
putting
people
into
a
hamster
wheel
of
working
but
never
being
upwardly
mobile.
The
commuter
benefits
bill
is
a
fantastic
start
to
philadelphia,
getting
taking
a
more
hands-on
role
with
encouraging
public
transit.
That's
what's
particularly
fantastic
about
the
bill
is
that
it
will
have
multiple
upfront
benefits
and
many
positive
knock-on
effects.
J
A
typical
septa
rider
using
the
commuter
benefits
bill
using
the
commuter
benefit
would
save
more
than
20
per
month
and
250
per
year,
but
this
goes
even
more
with
regional
rail.
Those
who
typically
buy
more
regional,
expensive
regional
rail
passes
could
save
up
to
a
thousand
dollars
per
year.
Huge,
and
this
ladder
figure
for
regional
rails
is
especially
a
transformative
figure
for
workers
due
to
lots
of
reverse
commuting
in
the
city,
as
well
as
the
existence
of
over
50
regional
rail
stations
within
the
city
limits.
J
The
other
upfront
benefit
will
be
increased
safety
on
the
system,
since
the
bill
will
increase
ridership
with
more
eyes
on
the
system
and
the
power
of
numbers.
It
won't
be
a
panacea,
but
it
will
help
I
feel
safer
anytime.
I
step
onto
a
train
with
a
crowd
rather
than
an
empty
one,
and
most
of
all
the
bill
will
undoubtedly
support
philly's
economic
recovery,
most
people,
riding
transit
will
cut
traffic
chip
away
at
our
parking
problem
and
improve
our
error.
Most
importantly,
more
people
won't
waste
their
time
stuck
in
traffic.
J
While
going
to
work,
I
can
see
the
mental
health
benefits
improvements
already.
People
deserve
alternatives
and
the
bill
will
be
this
first
step
to
hopefully
something
much
more
as
I've
said
before.
I
hope
that
this
is
just
the
first
step
in
many
ways
that
the
city
council
is
going
to
take
a
more
hands-on
role
in
helping
people
get
around
this
great
city
being
able
to
have
a
balanced
and
multimodal
way
of
getting
around
has
changed
my
life
and
I'm
sure
it
will
for
many
residents
as
well.
Thank
you.
B
K
Sure
morning,
everybody,
my
name
is
nick
zawala
rogers,
I'm
the
transportation
program
director
at
clean
air
council
thanks
for
the
opportunity
to
submit
this
testimony
on
behalf
of
the
council,
my
organization
strongly
supports
bill
number
220337,
creating
the
employer,
commuter
transit,
benefits,
program,
chapter
of
title
ix
of
the
philadelphia
code.
The
council
is
a
member
supported
environmental
advocacy
organization
whose
mission
is
to
protect
everyone's
right
to
a
healthy
environment.
K
The
council
also
works
with
the
delaware
valley,
regional
planning
commission,
to
administer
the
mobility
alternatives
program
in
philadelphia
in
a
role
that
is
similar
to
that
of
a
tma
in
the
suburbs.
We
work
to
reduce
single
occupancy
vehicle
travel
by
educating
employers
and
employees
about
cleaner
forms
of
commuting,
including
by
offering
pre-tax
transit
benefits.
Like
the
subject
of
this
legislation,
the
council
is
itself
an
employer
that
offers
its
employees
a
pre-tax
transit
benefit
and
I'd
like
to
relay
a
bit
of
perspective
on
today's
legislation.
K
From
each
of
these
roles
as
an
environmental
advocate,
a
tma
adjacent
role
and
an
employer
who
offers
this
program
nationally.
Transportation
is
the
sector
that
emits
the
most
emissions
contributing
to
climate
change
and
personal
vehicles.
Make
up
the
largest
part
of
that
sector
here
in
philadelphia?
Transportation
is
the
largest
source
of
the
air
pollution
that
we
breathe
in
every
day.
Reducing
the
number
of
vehicles
on
the
road
will
have
important
climate
and
public
health
benefits.
K
Encouraging
people
to
opt
for
transit
and
leave
their
personal
vehicles
at
home
can
be
achieved
through
the
commuter
benefits
described
in
this
legislation
in
a
city
that
has
one
of
the
largest
transit
systems
in
the
country
and
where
jobs
are
centrally
located
near
train,
subway
and
bus
lines.
Only
26
percent
of
philadelphians
take
transit
to
work
while
more
than
half
drive
alone.
K
A
K
K
K
Finally,
as
mentioned
previously,
the
council
is
also
familiar
with
community
commuter
benefits
like
this
one
as
an
employer
that
offers
them.
The
council
makes
a
pre-tax
transit
benefit
available
to
our
employees
and,
according
to
our
hr
administrator,
the
benefit
is
well
liked
by
the
staff,
because
it
is
a
direct
financial
savings
for
them.
We
end
up
saving
money
as
an
employer,
even
after
taking
into
account
minimal
fees
to
run
the
program.
K
Our
particular
provider
charges
us
three
dollars
and
twenty
five
cents
per
user
and
then
two
percent
of
the
money
set
aside
for
the
benefit.
A
typical
employee
sets
aside
about
a
hundred
dollars
a
month
to
pay
for
a
pass,
and
that
makes
up
about
a
five
percent
administrative
fee
with
our
vendor.
The
council
saves
seven
and
a
half
percent
on
federal
payroll
taxes
through
the
program
making
it
a
net
positive
for
the
organization.
K
The
council
is
a
medium-sized
non-profit
but
would
fall
short
of
the
50
employees
regulated
by
the
legislation
and
a
larger
employer
who
would
be
regulated
by
this
with
more
administrative
and
hr
capacity
could
surely
offer
this
program
with
relative
ease,
saving
their
company
and
their
employees,
money,
boosting
employee
morale
and
leading
to
the
reduced
congestion
that
benefits
the
city
as
a
whole.
So
thank
you
again
for
the
opportunity
to
describe
why
the
council
supports
this
legislation
as
environmental
advocates
as
a
transportation
management
organization
and
as
an
employer.
B
A
A
One
of
the
major
programs
I
managed
at
dvrpc
was
the
ride.
Eco
commuter
benefit
program,
formerly
also
known
as
transit
check,
dvrpc
administered
this
program
on
behalf
of
the
major
transit
providers
in
our
region.
It
served
employers
located
in
dvrbc's
nine
county
service
area,
which
is
five
counties
in
pennsylvania,
including
philadelphia
and
the
four
in
southern
new
jersey.
A
In
later
years,
we
were
also
able
to
serve
employers
located
here
that
also
had
sites
in
other
states
as
well.
Our
program
started
with
paper
vouchers
and
progressed
to
electronic
loads
of
benefits.
Cards
that
are
branded
with
a
major
credit
card
company
to
be
used
only
to
purchase
transit
fares,
as
well
as
loads
directly
to
transit
cards
like
septa's
key
card
and
paco's
freedom
card,
dvrpc,
transitioned,
the
ride
eco
program
to
our
long
time,
fulfillment
partner,
eden
redcorp
in
march
of
2020,
which
was
just
as
covid,
was
starting
to
impact
our
country.
A
My
experience
with
commuter
benefit
in
our
region
and
in
other
parts
of
the
country
through
my
membership
in
the
association
for
commuter
transportation,
has
helped
me
see
firsthand
the
impact
offering
this
type
of
program
can
have
on
transit,
ridership
and
on
participating
employers
bottom
line,
because
the
commuter
benefit
can
be
paid
by
employees
on
a
pre-tax
basis.
They
are
automatically
saving
money
on
their
commute.
A
Sometimes
this
program
helps
an
employee
who
could
not
previously
afford
to
buy
a
more
cost-effective
monthly
pass
say
do
so
because
of
the
discount
the
program
offers
with
pre-tax
money
and
because
the
employer
can
save
on
payroll
taxes,
as
mentioned
for
each
employee,
who
participates
which
usually
offsets
any
expense
related
to
the
program.
In
fact,
some
imps
excuse
me.
Some
employers
can
see
a
savings
by
offering
this
benefit
to
employees.
I
believe
nick
just
spoke
to
that.
A
A
A
A
As
now,
more
than
ever,
they
we
all
are
working
to
get
riders
back
on
public
transportation
after
quite
a
break
and
ridership
loss
during
the
covered
pandemic
prior
to
covet
a
few
other
regions
of
the
country
like
san
francisco
and
oakland
and
new
york
city
have
found
that
found
their
commuter
benefit
ordinances
to
be
well
received
and
successful
like
philadelphia.
Several
other
regions
are
currently
exploring
or
creating
similar
ordinances
to
promote
transit
use
and
to
make
it
more
affordable
as
well.
This
is
important
to
dvrpc
as
well.
A
A
few
years
ago
I
had
assisted
with
creating
an
initial
draft
of
this
ordinance
working
with
councilman,
suella
and
his
staff.
So
I'm
very
pleased
to
see
this
ordinance
come
to
the
hearing
stage
and
hope
it
will
be
adopted
by
the
council.
I'm
sure
dvr
pc
will
assist
otis
and
the
city
in
any
way
we
can
to
promote
the
ordinance
as
part
of
our
tdm
work.
Thank
you
very
much
for
this
opportunity
to
testify
before
the
committee
and
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
B
B
G
Just
had
a
brief
comment:
councilmember
again,
yes,
first
of
all,
I
want
to
thank
our
testifiers
today,
especially
members
of
the
septa
advisory
commission,
the
clean
air
council
and
dvr
pc.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
work
in
advancing
transit
interests,
but
also,
you
know,
really
melding
them
with
it's,
not
just
a
policy.
It's
a
policy,
that's
put
into
action,
and
I
think
one
of
the
things
that
I
appreciate
so
much
by
everybody's
testimony
is
the
idea
that
we
are
trying
to
influence
behavior.
I
mean
at
some
point.
G
You
know
the
best
policies,
nudge
behaviors
towards
things,
and
I
think
ms
bartels,
your
testimony
really
laid
that
out
very
clearly
that
you
can
actually
see
incremental
growth,
either
in
frequency
or
in
a
conversion.
But
what
we
want
to
do
is
be
able
to
offer
options
to
everybody
and
to
not.
You
know.
If
there's
certainly
when
there's
federally
guaranteed
benefits,
you
know
we
want
that
to
be
available.
G
B
C
C
M
M
No
problem,
my
name
is
joshua
zarinkel.
I
am
the
advocacy
director
and
coalition
manager
of
transit
forward
philadelphia
good
morning
council
member
again
members
of
city,
council
and
other
guests.
I'm
pleased
to
be
here
and
representing
a
coalition
of
over
two
dozen
greater
philadelphia
organizations,
we're
made
up
of
a
diverse
group
of
members
ranging
from
labor
unions,
small
businesses,
community
development
organizations
and
senior
elderly
and
disability
rights
advocates,
as
well
as
a
collective
of
writers
interested
in
advocating
for
a
safe,
accessible
and
sustainable
transit
network.
M
M
Our
organization
strongly
supports
bill
number
220337,
creating
the
employee,
commuter
transit
benefit
programs,
chapter
of
title,
nine
of
the
philadelphia
code
as
one
of
the
largest
poor
cities
in
america,
with
a
26
poverty
rate
and
a
medium
household
income
of
roughly
forty
thousand
dollars.
Philadelphians
deserve
every
opportunity
they
can
get
to
save
money
on
daily
household
expenditures,
whether
it's
costs
related
to
transportation,
housing,
groceries
or
health
care.
Our
elected
officials
and
government
agencies
must
do
everything
they
can
to
make
this
city
affordable
and
accessible
for
every
philadelphian.
M
Before
the
pandemic,
roughly
24
of
all
philadelphian
residents
took
public
transit
to
work
while
remote
work
has
changed
that
significantly
low-income
communities
and
writers
of
color
still
depend
on
public
transit
every
single
day,
and
the
numbers
speak
for
themselves.
Among
philadelphians
who
take
public
transit
to
work.
Forty
four
percent
earn
less
than
twenty
five
thousand
dollars
per
year
and
roughly
half
of
septa
riders
are
from
commutes
of
color
for
low-income
riders.
The
cost
of
commuting
has
a
significant
impact
on
their
household
budgets.
M
M
However,
the
transit
commuter
benefits
program
introduced
by
council
member
gim
is
a
massive
opportunity
to
relieve
the
cost
of
commuting
for
thousands
of
scepter
riders.
The
benefits
of
this
builder
will
result
in
hundreds
of
dollars
of
savings
each
year
for
the
average
scepter
rider
as
an
organization
that
believes
in
safe,
accessible
and
affordable
public
transit.
We
fully
support
the
commuter
benefits
bill
and
its
passing.
We
hope
a
program
like
this
will
be
a
stepping
stone
toward
future
saving
programs,
such
as
low
income
fares,
fair
capping
or
universal
free
transit.
M
In
our
recent
bus
rider
survey
as
part
of
our
better
access,
better
service,
better
buses
campaign,
we
found
that
public
safety
was
often
cited
as
the
number
one
obstacle
for
riders
to
use
public
transit
right
now.
Fortunately,
septa
is
taking
proactive
steps
to
ensure
the
safety
of
riders
through
their
scope
and
save
programs
and
city
councils
are
now
doing
their
part
through
programs.
Like
the
transit
commuter
benefits
program,
which
will
see
more
riders
and,
most
importantly,
more
eyes
and
ears
on
the
system,
keeping
it
safe,
protected
and
operable.
M
Thank
you
again
for
allowing
me
to
speak
today
and
to
represent
only
a
portion
of
the
diverse
group
of
riders
residents
and
community
groups
throughout
this
transit
dependent,
but
also
transit,
rich
city.
Again,
our
organization
transit
forward
philly
fully
supports
employee
commuter
benefits
bill
and
we
hope
that
city
council
will
do
the
same.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
time.
N
N
Last
year
I
received
my
master
in
city
planning
from
the
university
of
pennsylvania
and
I
currently
work
for
the
national
association
of
city
transportation,
officials,
of
which
my
carol
is
the
board.
So
I
am
very
in
favor
of
bill
number
220337
and
the
significant
benefits
it
will
provide
to
the
city
by
expanding
access
to
the
commuter
benefits
programs
to
workers
at
mid
and
large
sized
businesses
across
the
city.
N
N
After
a
long
period
of
contraction,
starting
with
white
flight
in
the
1970s
philadelphia
has
finally
experienced
population
growth
from
2000
to
2010,
with
development
now
booming
in
center
city
and
the
surrounding
neighborhoods,
as
with
all
successful
cities.
This
has
now
correlated
with
increased
congestion
and
philadelphia,
now
ranks
third
for
congestion
among
american
cities
after
boston
chicago.
According
to
a
2019
report
released
by
inrix
and
meanwhile,
poverty
has
remained
stagnant,
hovering
around
26
percent
community
benefits.
Programs,
like
the
ones
proposed
play
a
critical
role
in
addressing
these
congestion
issues
and
have
it.
N
In
seattle,
many
other
cities
have
also
passed
legislation
to
ensure
that
employers
provide
access
to
this
federal
tax
benefit
for
their
workers.
Expanding
access
to
community
benefits
will
result
in
a
variety
of
positive
impacts,
including
workers
saving
hundreds
of
dollars
each
year,
especially
low
income
workers.
For
those
who
frequently
rely
on
septa
and
other
mass
transit
options.
N
B
O
I'm
pleased
to
join
some
of
my
colleagues
here
today
who
spoke
in
favor
of
bill
220337
the
commuter
benefits
bill
and,
in
addition
to
underlining
everything
that
all
the
good
things
that
they
had
to
say
about
it.
I
wanted
to
take
a
few
moments
to
talk
about
a
specific
slice
of
the
bill
that
I
have
a
little
perspective
on,
which
is
the
option
to
provide
employer
paid
benefits
as
an
alternative
to
the
pre-tax
federal
benefits.
O
O
May
1st
called
septic
key
advantage,
which
is
a
partnership
with
three
large
employers
in
philadelphia,
wawa,
drexel,
university
and
penn
medicine,
where
all
workers
employed
by
those
institutions
will
receive
a
septa
anywhere
pass
as
part
of
their
base
benefits
package,
because
the
institutions
are
purchasing
transit
access
in
bulk
for
their
workforce
and
everyone
is
included
in
the
deal.
Septa
is
able
to
offer
them
a
deep
bulk
discount,
making
this
an
affordable
and
attractive
benefit
for
the
companies
to
offer.
O
These
pilot
deals
will
last
for
six
months,
since
that
is
what
the
general
manager
has
the
flexibility
to
do,
and
septa
management
has
put
forward
some
language
as
part
of
the
upcoming
fear
tariff.
That
would
create
a
permanent
program
if
passed.
More
companies
could
begin
enrolling
in
this
program
as
soon
as
this
september
or
october.
O
So
this
is
a
local
revenue
stream
that
will
help
specifically
increase
the
amount
of
operating
revenue
that
septa
has
available
to
run
more
frequent,
reliable
service.
You
know
a
lot
of
the
state
funding
and
federal
funding
that
comes
in
is
specifically
for
capital,
but
operating
is
really
where
you
know.
O
When
residents
ask
for
more
frequent
and
reliable
and
fast
service,
that's
the
upper
bucket
of
operating
revenue
is
where
that's
going
to
come
from,
and
so
this
specifically
creates
more
of
that,
and
it's
also
going
to
help
create
more
of
a
buffer
to
protect
philly's
transit
funding
levels
from
political
shifts
in
harrisburg.
Where
you
know,
that's
gotten
a
little
bit
more
precarious
lately
under
the
way
act
89
has
played
out.
So
those
of
us
who
have
been
campaigning
for
institutional
past
programs
have
been
very
encouraged
to
see.
B
L
Thank
you,
mr
chair
and
councilwoman
kim.
My
name
is
john
boyle.
I
am
the
research
director
for
the
bicycle
coalition
of
greater
philadelphia,
so
I'm
gonna
offer
a
slightly
different
perspective
on
the
testimony,
as
I
have
been
as
a
new
jersey
bike
and
transit
commuter,
who
has
been
receiving
a
commuter
benefits
through
the
bicycle
coalition
for
the
past
13
years.
I
strongly
support
this
bill.
L
For
me,
my
normal
four
season,
fair
weather
commute,
involves
bringing
my
bicycle
on
a
riverline
light
rail
train
getting
off
at
rutgers,
camden
and
bicycling
over
the
bridge.
On
other
days,
I
use
a
variety
of
other
transit
options
available
to
connect
to
downtown
on
the
paco
high
speed
line.
The
atlantic
city,
rail
line,
new
jersey,
transit,
417
express
bus,
and
I
also
used
my
set
the
key
card
for
the
occasional
trips
beyond
downtown
my
typical
transit
cost
before
the
2020
lockdown
was
just
74
a
month.
L
At
my
current
three
days
a
week
schedule
at
the
bicycle
coalition.
I
now
use
new
jersey,
transit's
20
trip
tickets
and
my
average
monthly
cost
is
about
35
dollars.
If
you
figure
in
the
occasional
patco
trip
and
whatever
the
data
from
the
center
city
district
shows
that
only
five
percent
of
philadelphia's
center
city
transit
commuters,
use
the
paco
high
speed
line
and
less
than
two
percent
use:
new
jersey,
transit
buses
and
trains
with
limited
or
poorly
marketed
transit
options.
L
Getting
new
jersey,
commuters
to
use
transit
needs
incentives,
and
yet
it
offers
the
largest
opportunity
for
growth
in
transit
and
reduction
of
cars
traveling
at
the
center
city
and
the
university
city
districts.
If
you
work
in
philadelphia
but
live
in
new
jersey,
there
is
a
great
incentive
to
take
public
transit,
as
almost
every
automobile
trip
involves.
A
five
dollar
bridge
toll
new
jersey
commuters
also
need
to
know
they
can
write
off
their
philadelphia.
Commuter
tax
to
reduce
their
new
jersey
state
income
tax.
G
B
E
B
B
B
C
B
D
F
B
And
note
that
the
council
member
jones
accepted
the
motion,
it
has
been
moved
and
properly.
Second,
that
the
amendment
to
bill
number
two,
two
zero
three
three
seven
be
approved.
All
those
in
favor
of
the
motion
will
signify
by
saying
aye
hi
hi,
those
opposed
the
eyes
have
it,
and
the
motion
carries
amendment
to
bill.
Number
220337
has
been
approved.
D
B
No
councilmember
jones
for
the
second,
it
has
been
moved
and
properly.
Second,
the
bill
number
two
two
zero
three
three:
seven
as
it
meant
to
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
moves.
The
rules
of
council
be
permitted,
be
suspended
and
submit
the
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
the
next
session
of
council,
all
in
favor
signify,
saying
aye,
aye
old
poe,
any
opposed
captioning,
not.