STIMULUS BILL & COMMUTER BENEFITS

Transit systems aren't the only ones cheering the Feb. 17 bill signing: riders are getting a break too. "Tax-Free Commuter Benefits," which let employees pay for their mass transit tickets with pretax income, saw the amount that can be spent rise from $120/month to $230. The jump is expected to raise ridership, according to TransitCenter, the nonprofit that supported the increase. Here's their new site explaining the benefit.