A pair of Montgomery County programs that provide financial incentives to companies whose employees carpool or ride public transit will be expanding in every aspect next year, officials said Wednesday.
In the Fare Share and Super Fare Share programs, the county offers matched dollars to businesses that give money to help workers use public transportation to and from work.
Super Fare Share applies to businesses in the county’s transportation management districts of Bethesda, North Bethesda, Silver Spring and Friendship Heights, while Fare Share targets businesses in all other parts of the county.
According to officials, the county has been allowing businesses to take part in Fare Share for two years and providing a maximum amount of $20,000 per business per year. But beginning in January those amounts will bump up to three years and up to $30,000 per business annually.
For Super Fare Share, companies have been allowed to get matching dollars for a five-year time period. From now on, though, that amount will increase to nine years, with each one able to get up to $30,000 in county funds per year.
A county official on Wednesday couldn’t say how much the current programs cost the county and how much the expansions would cost.
Esther Bowring, a public information officer, said the county’s Public Works Department requested and received extra money to grow the programs, which will make it possible to increase support to local companies in the ways just announced.
“Commuters get an economical ride to and from work, employers offer a competitive benefit at a low cost and the county reduces traffic congestion,” she said.
Starting in January, the total amount per employee will be $110. That sum is tax-free for employees and a tax deduction for employers.
For more information about commuter services in Montgomery County, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/commute.
