COMMUTING MADE EASIER
Explore ways to save money, reduce stress, and get around DC more efficiently.Start Here: Find Your Best Commute
Not sure where to start? Whether you’re commuting daily or a few times a week, we’ll help you find the best option for your schedule, budget, and lifestyle.
Save Money
Explore commuter benefits, incentives, and transportation programs that help reduce daily travel costs across DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Visit our helpful resources to find savings on transit, carpooling, biking, and more.
Save Time
Use real-time transit, biking, and trip-planning apps to choose the fastest routes and avoid delays. These tools help you plan smarter and get where you need to go with less guesswork.
Reduce Stress
Skipping traffic and choosing reliable transportation options that fit your routine. Simple planning tools and resources can make your daily travel more predictable and less stressful.
Transportation Options
COMMUTER BENEFITS
Many DC employers offer financial assistance, tools, and incentives to help you save money, time, and stress on your commute. In fact, those with 20 or more employees are required to do so thanks to the DC Commuter Benefits Law!
Commuter benefits can include pre-tax payment options, tax-free transit subsidies, corporate Capital Bikeshare memberships, employer-provided shuttles/vanpools, and more. Read on to learn about how you can leverage commuter benefits on your commute.
Organizations with 20 or more employees in the District of Columbia are required to offer commuter benefits to their employees. Employers must comply with this law by providing one or more of the following:
- Employee-paid, pre-tax benefit: Employer allows the employee to set aside up to $340 per month on a pre-tax basis to cover public transit or vanpool costs.
- Employer-paid, direct benefit: Employer offers employees a tax-free subsidy of up to $340 per month for public transit or vanpools.
- Employer-provided transportation: Employer provides employees with a free shuttle or vanpool service.
Compliance with this law is mandatory. If your employer has 20+ employees but does not offer one of the above, contact the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) Office of Wage-Hour at 202.671.1880 or [email protected].
Employee-paid, pre-tax benefits are the most common commuter benefit offering. If your employer offers a pre-tax benefit program, public transit or vanpool costs can be deducted directly from your paycheck, reducing taxes and increasing take-home pay.
To start saving with pre-tax benefits:
- Reach out to your Human Resources representative to find out if your workplace offers pre-tax commuter benefits.
- Figure out how much you currently spend (or plan to spend) on transit each month; this will be the amount you set aside from your paycheck. You can set aside up to $340 per month. Refer to our Pre-Tax Employee Benefit document for a detailed breakdown.
- If you plan to use pre-tax benefits for public transit, make sure you have a SmarTrip card. You’ll need to register this card online to receive transit benefits.
- Connect with your HR representative to complete the enrollment paperwork. You’ll need to provide your SmarTrip card number and indicate how much money you’d like to set aside each month.
Once you complete the enrollment process, the money you set aside from your paycheck will automatically show up on your SmarTrip card every month.
Employers may offer a wide variety of benefits and incentives to make commuting easier, such as:
- Tax-free subsidized transit benefits for use on Metro, buses, commuter rail, and vanpools.
- Bicycle commuter benefits for bike-related commute expenses
- Free or discounted Capital Bikeshare memberships for employees’ use on commute and personal trips
- Free or discounted car-sharing memberships for employees to access shared vehicles throughout the city
- Employer-provided transportation, such as shuttles or vanpools
Employers may also offer innovative programs, including:
- Flex or Alternative Work Schedules: Work hours can be shifted so staff can beat rush hour, or compressed to a 4-day work week
- Ridematching Assistance: Employers pair commuters with similar routes to form a carpool or vanpool
- Parking Cashout: Employers give employees cash in lieu of a free parking spot
- Bike storage and lockers
- Showers
- Real-time transit displays
Employers may also offer on-site transportation amenities for their employees, including:
- Bike storage and lockers
- Showers for employees who bike or walk to work
- Real-time transit display screens
Your commute savings will depend on the type of commuter benefits program offered by your employer. In general, employees who participate in a pre-tax commuter benefit can save up to 40% per month by spending non-taxed income on transit, rather than taxable income. See an example of how much you could save.
Enrolling in a commuter benefits program is usually fast and easy. Consult your organization’s HR department to learn more about the commuter benefits programs your employer offers.
If your workplace does not currently offer these benefits, use our template justification letter to communicate that setting up a commuter benefits program is mutually beneficial. You can also share goDCgo’s Commuter Benefits Toolkit with your employer and encourage them to reach out to us for complimentary assistance with set-up.
LET US HELP YOU CHANGE YOUR COMMUTE
Try Transit
Curious about switching up your commute? Try Metro, bus, or bikeshare for free. You may qualify for a $20 SmarTrip® card or a Capital Bikeshare day pass to get started.
Take the Next Step in Your Commute
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Buy a Capital Bikeshare Membership
Purchase a Capital Bikeshare membership and have convenient access to classic bikes and ebikes for your commute.
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Find a Carpool to Join
Find an existing carpool near you or create a new one with Commuter Connections’ Ride-Matching database.
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Get a Guaranteed Ride Home
Become a Commuter Connections user to access six FREE rides each year in the event of an emergency or unscheduled overtime.
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Buy a SmarTrip® Card
Purchase a WMATA SmarTrip® card to be used interchangeably throughout Washington, Baltimore and the surrounding region.
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Download the Bike Map
Explore all the bike-friendliness Washington, DC has to offer by downloading the DC Bike Map.
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Learn About Transportation Equity
Learn what transportation equity options are available in the District including discount and accessibility programs.
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Try Traveling by Scooter
Scooting is a convenient mobility option in the District. Follow these rules and safety tips to ensure a safe city for everyone.
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Download CommuterCash
Earn rewards for taking a sustainable commute with the CommuterCash app from Commuter Connections.
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Travel to the Airport
Simplify your trip to the airport. Download the Airport Travel Guide to discover convenient sustainable travel options that fit your needs.
CommuterCash App
Earn Rewards While Commuting
Use the CommuterCash app to find better commute options and earn rewards for logging your trips. Redeem points for cash, gift cards, or transportation credits.
Our Favorite Commuting Resources
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Get realtime transit info for Metrorail and Metrobus using this app. Choose your station, line, or route to get up to date information
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Metro Pulse helps DC commuters stay informed with real-time transit updates, service alerts, and transportation news across the region.
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The official fare payment system for Metrorail and Metrobus, allowing commuters to pay fares digitally, reload funds, manage cards, and access seamless transit travel throughout the District.
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Citymapper uses open data, mobile, and payment technology to make sustainable transportation easy. Compare your travel options in real-time across all modes.
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A free app that helps you find optimal commuting options and earn cash and other rewards while you commute!
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The area’s regional bikeshare program serving DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Riders can access classic bikes and e-bikes from hundreds of stations 24/7.
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Scooter and bike provider in the District
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Scooter provider in the District
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Bike and scooter provider in the District
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Commuter Connections
Provides free ridematching services, carpool and vanpool support, commuter incentives, and transit resources in the DMV region.
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Guranteed Ride Home
A free emergency ride home program for commuters who use sustainable transportaion to work. Eligible commuters can receive up to six emergency rides home per year.
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DCHR Commuter Benefits Program
Provides information about commuter tax savings, transit benefits, parking benefits, and commuter spending accounts for DC employees.
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WMATA Rider Guide
WMATA provides resources for new Metro riders to help calculate fares and become comfortable navigating Metrorail and Metrobus in the District.
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WMATA Trip Planner
Receive up to three itineraries for getting to your destination by bus, rail, or both. Available on WMATA’s website
Get Commuting Tips in Your Inbox
Subscribe to goDCgo’s Commuter Newsletter to receive helpful tips and ideas to make your daily travel easier than ever
TRAVEL TRAINING
New to commuting in DC? Build your confidence with a hands-on travel training session and learn how to navigate your options.
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