MBTA Subsidy Boasts Big Savings- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
MBTA Subsidy Boasts Big Savings- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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August 11, 2000
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In This Issue:
From the Bahamas to Boston
Pressley-Capers joins BWH as Clinical Services VP
Bed Moves
MBTA Subsidy Boasts Big Savings
Kahlert Completes Wharton Fellows Program
Construction Update
Tobin Fund sends kids to camp
Red Sox Tickets
Ready, Set, Donate!
Main Course—Ice Cream!
Thanks to a new employee benefit subsidy, MBTA passes of all kinds are saving BWH employees more money than ever before. Two discount programs have encouraged several employees to leave their cars at home and take the T to work. The two benefits are the “Three for Free” trial program, in which an employee receives three monthly T passes at no cost to decide if the T works into his or her commuting routine; and the BWH-subsidized MBTA pass program, in which an employee receives any kind of MBTA pass deducted from his or her paycheck on a pre-tax basis, with BWH subsidizing 45% of the cost. The “Three for Free” program appealed to Tina Nappi of Care Coordination, so she decided to try it. “This program provided me with an incentive to try commuting via public transportation,” said Nappi. “It gave me the option of getting my parking space back at the end of the three-month period if the T didn’t work for me. As it turned out, the program led me to re-evaluate my commute, and I'm now taking the T instead of driving into the Longwood Medical Area. The BWH-subsidized T-pass program—in which the cost for T-passes is deducted directly out of employees’ paychecks—has been in effect since September 1999. However, in July 2000, the subsidized rate was changed from between 8-20% (depending on the kind of pass purchased) to an across-the-board flat subsidized rate of 45%. For example, prior to this July, BWH paid $9 of an MBTA combination bus and subway pass, which costs $46. Under the new subsidized plan, BWH now pays $20.70 of that pass. “I think it’s a great program,” said Michael Chen of Plastic Surgery, who is one of 200 BWH employees who signed up for the subsidized T-pass program in July. “I used to drive to work from Canton, which is a sizeable commute by car. Taking the T makes my life much easier. I don’t have to worry about traffic or anything, and I’m saving money at the same time.” “I love the discount, and I like not having to wait in line to get tokens in the morning,” adds Elizabeth Kelleher also of Plastic Surgery. While the subsidy has made already inexpensive subway and bus passes even more affordable, it has taken a large sum out of the price of commuter rail passes as well. Saurin Shah, MD, who commutes from Attleborough, signed up for the program primarily because of the discount. “With the subsidy, it becomes a very good value. It’s good to have the flexibility to be able to take the T and not worry about traffic and have the free time to read.”