SB 728: Cashing in on cash-out

Want to know one of the best ways to encourage greater use of public transit, bicycling and carpooling? Numerous studies say it's by using "parking cash-out"; in other words, employees whose parking costs are subsidized by their employer get an equivalent cash allowance if they don't use the parking space. State law already requires businesses with at least 50 employees to offer parking cash-out, but only the Air Resources Board can enforce the law. SB 728 (Lowenthal) puts enforcement at the local level where it belongs, by allowing cities, counties and local air districts to impose penalties for violation of the parking cash-out law.