TransitCenter was formed as a joint alliance of leading public transit providers and members of the business community in 1986. Our founding purpose was to develop innovative ways to encourage greater use of public transit to reduce traffic, congestion and improve air quality. We introduced TransitChek, the first tax-free commuter benefits program in 1987. It quickly became, and continues to be, the most widely used commuter benefits program in the nation.
TransitCenter's early success led to the development of similar programs throughout the country. However, it was the founder and President of TransitCenter, Inc., Larry Filler, who worked closely with Federal agencies and members of the U.S. Congress to create and establish Internal Revenue Code Section 132(f) in 1993, the legal and regulatory structure that now governs commuter benefits.
Through our President and CEO, and our relationships with transit operators across the nation, we have remained at the forefront of the latest changes in regulations and transit related technologies that impact the use of commuter benefits. This has enabled us to develop programs that truly maximize the pretax savings for all of our clients, both employers and employees.
In 2001, TransitCenter became an independent nonprofit corporation, firmly establishing its mission to encourage and support transit ridership in order to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, preserve our natural resources and support the economy. To this end, we continue to improve our programs to provide tax-free savings to a wider audience of employers and commuting employees. We also form partnerships with other nonprofit organizations whose missions reflect and support our own. And we provide information and resources to make transit more accessible and easier to use. Today, over 11,000 businesses, with almost one-half million employees benefit daily as a result of our efforts.
The dedicated employees of TransitCenter are led by a Management Team and Board of Directors who are experts in the field and committed to our mission.