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editorial

Public transit: At least don’t discourage it

The federal government will only aggravate traffic by steering commuters into cars instead of trains, but that’s the practical impact of the latest bout of congressional inaction. By failing to pass a needed extension of a transit tax break, even while a separate subsidy for motorists rose this year, lawmakers have altered the financial calculus for some commuters and made them more likely to opt for driving.

Last year, commuters could choose to use up to $245 of their pre-tax earnings every month to pay for parking or public transportation, effectively making it cheaper for them. But this year, the tax break for commuters plunged to $130, while the benefit for drivers went up to $250. Boston residents who commute by bus or subway likely won’t feel any impact, but the change will directly affect those with lengthy commutes, such as workers who ride the commuter rail every day from outlying towns.

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Those are exactly the commuters who will be generating the most pollution and congestion if they choose to drive instead. In an ideal world, the tax structure should promote transit over driving. But at the very least, their treatment should be neutral. Congress should raise the monthly tax break for transit to $250, and make sure that in the future it never falls below the subsidy for motorists.