A program that gives commuters a free ride home for unexpected emergencies provided a record number of trips last year.
The Commuter Connections program through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments offers a “guaranteed ride home” to commuters who walk, take public transit, bike or carpool to work. The idea is to reduce traffic on the region’s notoriously congested roads by knocking away hurdles that prevent commuters from leaving the car at home.
It provided 3,096 free trips in the fiscal year that ended in June, according to a new report. That was a slight increase over the prior year’s 3,006 rides — and the most provided since the program began in 1996.
But that’s a small number of trips considering the more than 11,000 people registered for the service, especially given that each person can receive up to four rides in a single year.
“It’s more of an insurance policy,” said Commuter Connections Director Nicholas Ramfos.
Commuters tap into the program if they have a family emergency or have to work late. But the rides are not allowed for scheduled events, such as school classes or doctor’s appointments, nor for major crises such as weather emergencies or building evacuations.
If the ride is approved, the program dispatches a taxi to the person’s workplace or sets them up with a car rental so they can go home, Ramfos said. The average cost of each ride is $65, but free to the commuter except for any tips or fuel fees.
If the ride is approved, the program dispatches a taxi to the person’s workplace or sets them up with a car rental so they can go home, Ramfos said. The average cost of each ride is $65, but free to the commuter except for any tips or fuel fees.
About 40 percent of those who took the free trips used it for illnesses in the last fiscal year, according to the report. Some 16 percent had unscheduled overtime that kept them at work, while another 16 percent had child care or family emergencies.
Those who use the program must work within the metropolitan area. More than two-thirds of those registered for the program live in Virginia, while 31 percent live in Maryland and just 2 percent in the District. Another 2 percent live in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The budget for the program is $545,000, including administrative costs and regular marketing campaigns for the region’s ever-shifting population, Ramfos said. It is paid for through federal and local matching funds.
