Transit

Natalie Freeman gets by with a little help from her friends. Freeman, a patient services representative at the Massey Cancer Center, catches the Stony Point Express bus to downtown Richmond each day, and she has been known to be late on occasion. But her friends look out for her, and make sure the bus driver waits. 

"We have a lot of fun on the bus, and have developed relationships," Freeman said. "We are all on a first-name basis, and there is a lot of teasing going on."

Freeman has been taking public transit to work since 1999. The bus picks her up only three blocks from her house, and drops her off across the street from work. 

"I don't have to worry about parking, it's convenient, and good for the environment," Freeman said. 

The bus is $12.50 a week, and though Freeman could park for $10 per week at the bottom of the hill on Broad Street, the gas savings more than makes up the difference. 

"It's just more enjoyable to take the bus," Freeman said. "I read the Bible, relax and talk to my friends. We laugh  a lot."

Transit Companies

• Arlington Transit
• Blacksburg Transit
• Bluefield/Graham Transit
• City of Alexandria
• DASH -- Alexandria Transit Co.
• District III
• Fairfax Connector
• GRTC Transit System
• Greater Roanoke Transit Co. 
• Hampton Roads Transit
• James City County Transit
• Middle Penninsula
• Mountain Empire
• Omniride
• Traffix
• Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority

TAX SAVINGS

The federal tax code allows employers to offer their employees up to $100 per month in tax-free benefits for transit and vanpool passes. Alternatively, employees can set aside up to $100 per month pre-tax for transit or vanpool expenses. Neither the employer nor the employee pay payroll or income taxes on the benefit amount.