A program that provides some Washington-area commuters a free ride home when the unexpected strikes will now take people as far as Baltimore. The expansion is the first major change since the program’s creation in January 1997 when the Transportation Advisory Board implemented the Guaranteed Ride Home program as a “transportation emission reduction measure” to reduce traffic congestion in crowded areas in the metropolitan area.
Commuters who take public transportation, car pool, bike or walk to work at least two times a week are eligible for up to four free rides a year because of unexpected work hours or family or personal emergencies. The program provides either a taxi or rental car, covering all the fees except the cost of tip or fuel.
Nicholas Ramfos, director of the Commuter Connections program, said the expansion began in late October and so far has provided three free rides. He said the expansion “just made sense” because of the amount of travel to the Baltimore area.
“I think it’ll benefit both regions, as well as the transportation infrastructure,” he said.
The program has grown from providing 217 rides in 1997, its inaugural fiscal year, to 3,164 in fiscal 2010 — at an average cost of $68 a ride.
The program’s success also contributed to the decision to expand, Ramfos said. The allotted budgets for the program’s 2010 fiscal year is $150,000 for the Baltimore area and $585,000 for the Washington area, totaling $735,000 that comes out of local and federal funds.
Ramfos said the program, which will now include counties such as Carroll, Harford, Howard and St. Mary’s, will help “recruit and retain” commuters who already take public transportation or car pool and may encourage those who do not.
Commuters who want to enroll in the program can create an account at commuterconnections.org.
