This won't help Silver Line ridership.

WAMU's Martin DiCaro reports this morning:

Come January 1, the public transit benefit available to federal and private sector workers alike will drop from $245 to $130 dollars in pre-tax wages per month — unless Congress votes to keep the subsidy up. The parking benefit will go up to $250.

Yes, you read that right:  Congress is more interested in having federal workers DRIVE their cars than use public transit.  Currently, the subsidy for both is $245, but apparently Congress wants to see more workers drive on traffic-clogged, smog creating, global warming roads than take energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective public transit to and from work.

And here we sit with the Silver Line coming in December, er, February, OMG, April accompanied by the hope if not the expectation that more Reston area commuters will shift their commutes to the Silver Line--and maybe even take the bus to get to the station.  The Congressional proposal is on the anti-traffic demand management (anti-TDM) track:  Encouraging driving while discouraging public transit use. 

You just can't make this stuff up!  And if you did, who would believe you?

For DiCaro's full report, click here.