Now more than ever, residents of metropolitan Washington are in search of smart and effective solutions to the tremendous expense of driving alone to work. The Commuter Connections Ridematching Program is a free and easy way to find opportunities to save money and time. Commuters can register at www.CommuterConnections.org.

Commuter Connections, a regional network of transportation organizations coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), is helping residents of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia cope with high gas prices by providing transportation alternatives to driving alone to work, including carpool and vanpool ridematching services and information on other ways to get to work such as transit and bicycling.

The Ridematching Program provides residents with a free list of commuters who live and work near them, have similar work schedules, and are interested in carpooling or vanpooling to and from work. The matchlist also provides information such as the closest Park and Ride lot and transit station to each participant’s home. Commuters can register for this and other commuter-friendly programs and obtain helpful information on additional commuting alternatives such as  bicycling and walking.

“With the current high gasoline prices expected to go even higher, Commuter Connections helps solo drivers cut their commuting costs and go green by sharing a ride, bicycling, or trying public transportation” said Nicholas Ramfos, Commuter Connections Director.

Residents who use mobility alternatives such as ridesharing, public transportation, or bicycling to work two or more days a week are eligible to receive a free ride home in the event of an unexpected emergency or unscheduled overtime through the Commuter Connections Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) Program.  Commuter Connections also offers a variety of commuter incentive programs such as ‘Pool Rewards, CarpoolNow, and incenTrip, allowing commuters to earn up to $600 a year just for sharing the ride.

For more information on ridesharing, public transit, and other Commuter Connections alternatives to driving and paying exorbitant prices at the pump, visit www.CommuterConnections.org or call 1 800 745- RIDE.