Md. DOT expands emergency ride program

With new funding from the Maryland Department of Transportation, "Guaranteed Ride Home," previously available to workers in the Washington, D.C. region, has been expanded to the Baltimore region and St. Mary's County.

Workers in counties included in the program who commute by mass transit, van pool, car pool, bicycle or walking are eligible for a free ride home in the event of an emergency.

Guaranteed Ride Home provides regular commuters with a free ride home in the event of a mid-day emergency.

"One of the main reasons people do not take transit or join carpools is because they're worried about getting home quickly when family members get sick or there is a personal emergency," said Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. "We have heard this concern from BRAC workers, and the State of Maryland is stepping up to help," he added.

Guaranteed Ride Home eliminates that worry by offering regular commuters (at least twice a week) a ride home up to four times per year. To obtain a ride, commuters contact Commuter Connections, which administers the program, and the program matches them with a ride, in a vehicle depending on the commuter's home location. To be eligible, commuters must register in advance and must renew their registration annually.