Vacations are over. Students are back in the classrooms. And workers are headed into the office. As we settle into fall routines, sitting in traffic doesn’t have to be part of yours. Commuter Connections has the free resources you need, which are available on the program’s website: https://www.commuterconnections.org/.
Commuter Connections works directly with employers to incentivize their employees to take carpools, vanpools, transit, bicycling, and walking to get to work, helping reduce metropolitan Washington’s congested roads and reducing auto pollution.
So far in 2025, with a greater number of workers returning to the office, more people are taking advantage of Commuter Connections’ resources. From January to June, staff reported a 249 percent increase in web visits compared to the previous year, as well as 8,021 newly created Commuter Connections accounts. Notably, commuters are showing increased interest in carpooling. The program saw match list requests, primarily from people seeking carpool partners, increase by nearly 200 percent this year compared to the same time period in 2024—6,780 to 20,073 requests. CommuterCash, a new commuter rewards app offered by Commuter Connections, launched in March and has reported more than 3,000 users in its first four months.
“We tend to see more traffic in September, and many workers in the region are returning to the office this year as well. These factors make it a great time for people to consider alternatives to their drive-alone commute. Commuter Connections is a great resource with free options that fit different lifestyles,” said Commuter Connections Director Daniel Sheehan.
Commuter Connections is a regional network of transportation organizations coordinated by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). For more than 50 years, this network has offered free services to both employers and employees.
Some of the staple programs that Commuter Connections offers include:
CommuterCash
CommuterCash engages commuters by encouraging them to choose alternatives to driving alone through gamification, cash, and other rewards and helping them find better travel options. Use the app to explore carpooling, transit, biking, or a combination of travel options. Log your commute trip into the CommuterCash app and earn points that can be redeemed for cash, Visa cards, Capital Bikeshare credits, or fare onto Metro’s SmarTrip cards. Commuters traveling into the Washington, DC area or anywhere within Maryland can earn up to $10 cash after completing just 10 roundtrips during peak commute hours– or save your points to earn $25, $50, or more. Up to $600 can be earned per calendar year. Earn cash while you commute with CommuterCash!
Additionally, CommuterCash can help you find the best way to avoid the stress of fighting traffic along with reducing wear and tear mileage on your vehicle and the cost of gas. Plus, it’s better for the environment. It is a win-win for commuters and for the metropolitan Washington region.
Carpool Bonus
The CommuterCash app pays a carpool bonus to commuters who start or join a new carpool. Commuters register their new carpools with Commuter Connections, and when approved, carpoolers can earn up to $320 over 90 days, while vanpools of at least seven people can qualify for a $200 recurring monthly subsidy. Various employers also offer employees up to $325 each month to cover vanpool expenses.
Guaranteed Ride Home
In case of an emergency, Guaranteed Ride Home from Commuter Connections has your back. It provides commuters who regularly (two or more days per week) carpool, vanpool, bike, walk, or take transit to work with a free and reliable ride home. Commuters may take advantage of Guaranteed Ride Home for up to six times per year for personal illness, a sick child, or other emergencies that may arise. It can even be used for unscheduled overtime when your employer asks you to stay a bit later.
Learn more by visiting the Commuter Connections website at https://www.commuterconnections.org/.