Metro Advantage


Metro Advantage

The no cost benefit for employees AND employers.

Not too many benefits save money for both employees and their employers.  That’s just one of the reasons to sign up for Metro Advantage today.  It is also easy to implement, manage and use.

With Metro Advantage employees buy Metro Monthly Passes – through their employer – using pre-tax dollars.  Employees save approximately 30 percent on their monthly public transportation costs.  Employers reduce their obligations to federal and state income tax, some unemployment taxes, and FICA.  There is no cost to participate, and no added fees or shipping charges.  Metro Advantage is an employee benefit that lowers payroll costs while saving money for each participating employee. 

Through Metro Advantage, a $77* Metro Monthly Pass purchased with pre-tax dollars has a real cost of about $50.  A Single Zone pass priced at $64 has a real cost of about $42.  Employers save more and more with each participant.

The program is economical and convenient.  Let us show you . . .

* Note: The full amount of the pass will be deducted from paycheck as pre-tax. The monthly savings is based on the deductions being pre-taxed.

EmployersEmployees


Employers
Savings for You and Your Employees

Through the Metro Advantage Program, employers are able to offer their employees the benefit of purchasing monthly Metro Transit Passes utilizing pre-tax dollars. Money spent on pre-tax transit expenditures reduces employer obligations to federal and state income tax, some unemployment taxes, and FICA. Metro Advantage can be offered to full and part-time employees.

The Metro Advantage Program means tax savings to employers that quickly add up. For example, for every $1,000 deducted from taxable payroll, the employer saves approximately $76.50 in FICA.

Let Metro Advantage work for you and your employees. The benefits of the program include: tax savings, reduced automobile expenses, reduced parking burdens and parking costs, as well as reliable transportation to and from work.

Passes sold through Metro Advantage are valid for the full month for which they are issued. All Zone passes can be used on an unlimited basis in Erie & Niagara Counties, Monday-Sunday, on bus or rail, for work, shopping, entertainment, etc. Single Zone passes can be used for any bus, or the rail (in Zone 1), any day or time, within the specified zone.

Good for business and good for the community. Every full Metro bus means 40 fewer cars on the road. Every full railcar means 150 fewer cars on the road. Transit use increases air quality and reduces traffic congestion.

Get Started in Four Easy Steps
  1. Determine how many employees would like to participate in the program and have each individual complete an Employee Participation Form. The IRS requires employers to retain these forms on file. (Employee Forms do not need to be forwarded to Metro)
  2. Deduct the cost of the passes from participating employee paychecks before income tax, FICA, Social Security and other taxes are deducted.
  3. Once you have received the Employee Participation Forms from your employees, list the number of passes you require for each category indicated the Employer Monthly Pass Form. You may call in or fax your order to Metro's Cash Management Office (phone: 716-855-7202 | fax: 716-855-7311) TDD / relay 711 or 800.662.1220.. Or, you can mail your Employer Monthly Pass Form to the address listed below:
    NFTA-Metro Cash Management Office
    Attn: Metro Advantage
    181 Ellicott Street Buffalo, NY 14203
  4. Contact the Cash Management Office to arrange for pick-up, delivery and payment method (check, cash transfer or credit card) of the passes. When monthly passes are received, the company is responsible for distribution of the passes to their participating employees.

    Orders should be placed by the 15th of the month preceding the month for which the passes will be valid.

    For more information on the program please call the Metro Advantage Offic: 716.855.7499 | TDD / relay 711 or 800.662.1220..

    Note: Employers should maintain copies of the Employee Monthly Pass Forms in the respective employee’s file for tax purposes.

Employer's Monthly Pass Form
Employee Participation Form

Employees
Cost-Savings Benefit

The NFTA’s Metro Advantage Program is a great cost-savings benefit to you, and your employer. If you currently use public transportation, or are considering using public transportation, there is no easier way to bring your costs down.

Your Metro Monthly Pass is paid for with pre-tax dollars, which means that your employer deducts the cost of your pass prior to federal, state and FICA tax deductions. This represents a monthly savings to you of approximately 30 percent. So instead of paying $77 for a Metro All Zone Monthly Pass, you will be paying about $50 for the same pass.

Metro Advantage can be utilized by full and part-time employees.

  • The Metro Monthly Pass can be used for unlimited rides on the bus or rail, seven days a week.
  • All Zone Passes are valid in Erie and Niagara Counties.
  • Taking the bus or rail with a Metro Monthly Pass is convenient and comfortable.
  • Eliminate the worry, stress and cost of parking.
  • Helps save on the cost of gas.
  • Saves wear and tear on your vehicle.
  • Fewer cars on the road means less congestion and cleaner air.
  • A Metro Monthly Pass entitles you to the Emergency Ride Program.
  • Special offers & discounts to local businesses.
How do you sign up for the Metro Advantage Program?

Download the Employee Participation Form below or ask your human resources or payroll department for a copy. Return the signed form to your human resources or payroll department. The signed form authorizes your employer to deduct the cost of the Metro Monthly Pass from your earnings prior to the deduction of taxes.

Your employer will then order the pass from NFTA-Metro. Passes are delivered to your company for distribution. In most cases, passes will be in your company's possession by the 25th of the month preceding the date for which the passes can be used. Orders need to be placed with Metro by the 15th of the month preceding the month for which the passes will be valid.

For more information, call 716.855.7499 | TDD / relay 711 or 800.662.1220.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes a provision that temporarily increases the amount of the transit pass and vanpooling benefits that can be excluded from an employee's income under Code Section 132(f) to $230.  The increase is accomplished by making the combined monthly limit for transit pass and vanpooling benefits equal to the monthly limit for qualified parking expenses.

Note:   Lost passess are not replaced by NFTA-Metro.

Employee Participation Form

Compare Savings and Take Advantage

ALL ZONE PASS ~~ EXAMPLE
Withour pre-tax deduction Withour pre-tax deduction

Salary

$1,000

$1,000

Pre-tax purchase

$0

$77

FICA (7.65%)

$76.50

$70.61

Income taxes (30%)

$277.05

$255.72

Take home pay

$646.45

$596.67

After-tax purchase

$77

$0

You have

$557.50

$596.67

Savings per month

$569.45

$27.22


SINGLE ZONE PASS ~~ EXAMPLE
Withour pre-tax deduction Withour pre-tax deduction

Salary

$1,000

$1,000

Pre-tax purchase

$0

$64

FICA (7.65%)

$76.50

$71.60

Income taxes (30%)

$277.05

$259.32

Take home pay

$646.45

$605.08

After-tax purchase

$64

$0

You have

$591.45

$605.08

Savings per month

$582.45

$22.63

Metro's Zone System

The Metro system is divided into four fare zones. There is a $.30 zone charge each time a passenger crosses a zone, unless he or she is using an All Zone pass. A trip from Buffalo (Zone 1) to Niagara Falls (Zone 4) will cost $2.65. That is $1.75 base fare, plus $.30 for crossing from Zone 1 into Zone 2, $.30 more from Zone 2 to Zone 3 and a final $.30 crossing from Zone 3 to Zone 4. All zone charges are paid when exiting the bus.

 

Metro Zone Map
Metro Zone Map