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Baltimore Commutes Carpool Incentive Program

Carpool to Work and Unlock the Savings!

Employees who carpool to work in the Baltimore region now qualify for a $5 daily incentive through the new Baltimore Commutes Carpool Program! This 90-day special incentive program is funded by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and administered by Commuter Connections to encourage Baltimore-area commuters to start or join a carpool.

Program Eligibility

To qualify, carpools must:

  • Have a destination in the City of Baltimore, or Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, and Queen Anne’s Counties
  • Have an origin in any of the above jurisdictions or anywhere in Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, or Delaware
  • Register in the Carpool Rewards Program
  • Consist of 2 or more registered commuters (students and unemployed adults are not eligible)
  • Not participate in another regional carpool incentive administered by Commuter Connections

Carpool members must:

  • Have a Commuter Connections account
  • Log carpool trips in accordance with the program guidelines
  • Meet monthly survey requirements

Additional rules and restrictions apply, see the complete Baltimore Commutes Carpool Incentive Participation Guidelines.

Ready to Join or Start a Carpool?

Follow the links below to search for existing carpools to join or start your own. If you’re not quite ready and just want to learn more, check out our Ridesharing Resources section below.

Looking for Carpools to Join?

Our free ridematching platform helps you find other commuters to carpool with based on your origin, destination, and work schedules.

If you don’t already have a Commuter Connections account, set up your free account today and get started! Once you create your account, select “Find Ridematches” to create your search profile.

Create Your Free Account!

If you already have a Commuter Connections account, log in and select the “Find Ridematches” link from the menu to get started.

Log In to Search for Carpools!

If you need help accessing your account or adjusting your search criteria, contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-745-RIDE (7433).

Ready to Enroll Your Carpool in the Rewards Program?

If you and at least one other commuter are ready to start carpooling, follow these easy steps below to enroll your carpool in the Carpool Rewards Program and start earning rewards!

  1. Ensure everyone has a free Commuter Connections account (click here to sign up).
  2. Each carpool member will complete the online registration form – click the button below.
Enroll Your Carpool Now!

Commuter Connections will review the application and send a confirmation email to the group with your official start date for the 90-day incentive.

How to Earn Carpool Rewards

Once your carpool is officially enrolled in the Baltimore Commutes Carpool Program, your 90-day incentive period begins. Here’s what you and your carpool members need to do in order to earn rewards:

  1. Log your carpool trips using the online Commute Log Calendar:
    • Sign into your Commuter Connections account and select the “Commute Log” link to open your calendar. Set up a typical commute profile first, then you can select the calendar day (up to 10 days prior) to enter your commute trips.
    • At least 2 registered members of the carpool must log commute trips on the same day in order to verify the commute trip was taken
  2. Complete monthly surveys:
    • As part of this incentive program, participants must complete brief monthly surveys to help us understand your participation, commuting needs, and experience with the program.

The Commuter Connections team will review trip logs and surveys to ensure the program requirements are met. The monthly incentive will be distributed to each participant individually. The $5 daily incentive ($2.50 for each eligible morning and afternoon commute trip) will be delivered electronically after 30, 60, and 90 days of the program.

If you have 2 or more people ready to try carpooling, click the button below to get started!

Enroll Your Carpool Now!

What Carpool Rewards Can I Earn?

Available rewards for the program include:

  • Local gas station gift cards
  • Auto maintenance gift cards (Auto Zone, Jiffy Lube, etc.)
  • Amtrak gift card
  • Visa gift card

When you enroll in the program, you will select your preferred incentive to receive after 30, 60, and 90 days of enrollment.

What happens after the 90-day incentive program ends?

After you’ve completed the Baltimore Commutes Carpool Rewards Program, you’ll still be able to earn rewards by logging your commute trips in the CommuterCash app! Watch your personal rewards balance increase each time you log an eligible, verified commute trip, and redeem your points for rewards.

Ready to get started? If you have 2 or more people ready to enroll in Carpool Rewards, click the button below!

Enroll Your Carpool Now!

Learn More About Carpooling

Carpooling is when two or more commuters ride together in a private automobile on a continuing basis, regardless of their relationship to each other or the cost of sharing agreements. Carpooling is the simplest and most common “ridesharing” arrangement.

Finding someone to carpool is easy because employees of a single company often live near each other. Neighbors may work at different companies located only a short distance apart and have the same work hours. Employers may help facilitate carpool arrangements and provide incentives including preferential parking and commuting subsidies.

Arranging a Carpool

Carpools can be arranged in many ways, including:

  • One person may drive all the time, while the passengers contribute only to the cost (e.g., gas and parking).
  • Participants may alternate driving and not exchange money.
  • The carpool driver may pick up passengers at their homes, or they may meet at a central location.
  • Carpools can and do include family members.

Collectively, the carpool participants make up the rules and schedule.

Advantages of Carpooling

Some of the overall advantages of carpooling include the following:

  • Less stress commuting to and from work
  • Financial savings due to sharing commuting costs (Calculate your savings)
  • Reduces need for parking
  • Increases free time for riders
  • If an HOV lane is available, trips may take less time
  • Reduces pollution due to auto emissions
  • Employers who offer subsidies to employees who carpool may qualify to claim back 50% of costs (up to $1,200 per employee per year) through the Maryland Commuter Tax Credit
10 Tips for Successful Carpooling

Ridesharing Resources

Additional Carpool Program Contacts

Looking for additional support to get a carpool program going in your workplace or community? Want to know more about tax credits and financial benefits? Contact the MDOT Commuter Choice Maryland program or any of the Baltimore-area commuter programs:

cars parked in a park & ride lot

Park and Ride Lots in the Baltimore/Metropolitan Washington Regions

Designated lots where commuters can conveniently bike, walk, or drive to and join up with carpools/vanpools or gain access to public transit.

Learn More
HOV lane highway sign

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes

HOV lanes are reserved for carpools, vanpools, buses, and motorcycles during designated time periods.

Baltimore region HOV lane information:

MDOT HOV Info

Washington, DC region HOV lane information:

DC HOV Info
GRH Image Feb 2025

Guaranteed Ride Home

Provides commuters with a FREE and reliable ride home when unexpected emergencies arise.

Learn More