Commuter Choice
Maryland Newsletter
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This issue includes:
- incenTrip Mobile Application
- Commuter Choice Maryland Partner Program
- New Park & Ride Lots and Guaranteed Ride Home Signs
- Upcoming Webinars
- Rideshare Coordinator Stats & Highlights
- All Electronic Tolling Statewide Update
- MDOT MTA Plans & News
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MDOT ‘incenTrip’ Mobile App Encourages Maryland Commuters to Earn Rewards by Using Transit, Ridesharing, Biking and Walking
In 2021, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Commuter Choice Maryland program successfully launched the free, mobile application aimed at helping Maryland commuters save time and money, while also earning cash rewards when they take transit, rideshare, or use other alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles in their rush hour commute.
Through incenTrip, a trip planning and logging app available for iOS and Android devices, Marylanders can earn points toward cash rewards – and help reduce traffic congestion and emissions – by increasing their use of public transportation, carpooling, vanpooling, walking, biking or using alternative work schedules whenever possible.
To date, there have been over 600 downloads. The app has received positive feedback and new, registered users are reaping the benefits of using incenTrip. Commuter Choice Maryland continues to promote incenTrip through its social media channels - Facebook and LinkedIn.
To learn more about how to use the app; the benefits of incenTrip; and to download the app, visit the incenTrip website by clicking the button below. The app can also be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store.
If you are enjoying the incenTrip app, please leave us a review!
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Commuter Choice Maryland Partner Program
The Commuter Choice Maryland Employer Partner Program seeks to recognize employers and organizations for their leadership in offering transportation benefits and creative program incentives to their employees. These leadership efforts help Maryland to reduce congestion, conserve energy, protect the environment and improve the quality of life of all Marylanders. When you become a partner you unlock the following free benefits:
- Complimentary support
- Custom Transportation Plan and Employee Travel Behavior Survey
- Feature your employer/organization’s Success Story
- Option for a webinar spotlight highlighting your successes to over 7500+ businesses and commuters and social media
- Access to employer assistance resources
We are pleased to see the program grow with new partners joining! We would like to welcome our new partners and thank our existing partners!
To see a full list of partners and to become a partner today, click here.
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New Park & Ride Lots and
Guaranteed Ride Home Signs
Commuter Choice Maryland is working with the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) to install Guaranteed Ride Home Signs at a couple of their new and improved Park & Ride (P&R) lots along the I-95 corridor.
Park & Ride Lot at I-95/ MD 152
This P&R is currently closed. Improvements to the I-95 mainline (the addition of Electronic Toll Lanes) and the I-95/MD 152 interchange have necessitated removal of the existing P&R lot. A new lot will be constructed east of the existing P&R lot. Construction on the new P&R will be begin in February 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in June 2025. The new P&R lot is currently being designed with options ranging between 207 and 227
spaces.
Park & Ride Lot at MD 924
MDTA constructed this relatively new P&R lot and turned it over to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA). This P&R lot was opened for use on June 7, 2021. This P&R lot has 265 spaces, bus/bike shelters, bike racks, and is lighted. While the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) does not currently service this P&R lot, the design is MDOT MTA bus compatible
and bus pads are provided. Harford County Link Route 2/Blue Line buses are currently using this P&R lot.
To learn more about Guaranteed Ride Home, click here.
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Commuter Choice Maryland Webinar on Statewide Transit Plan
Commuter Choice Maryland is hosting a webinar featuring the Statewide Transit Plan led by our special guest Jade Clayton with the MDOT Maryland Transit Administration on February 2, 2022 at 12 pm EST. In this session, the MDOT MTA will discuss the draft of the Statewide Transit Plan, a 50-year vision of coordinated local, regional, and intercity transit across the state with a vision toward increasingly coordinated, equitable, and innovative mobility. The Plan defines a vision and the
goals, strategies, and future connections for transit across Maryland and its rural, suburban, and urban regions, as well as how you can provide input to help shape the Plan.
MDOT Bicycle, Pedestrian & Transit Grants Webinar
MDOT will host an online grants webinar for pedestrian, bicycle, and transit projects on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at 10 AM EST. The webinar will provide an overview of MDOT grants available for FY 2023 including Transportation Alternatives, Safe Routes to School, Recreational Trails, Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program, Highway Safety, and Strategic Transit Innovation Grants.
Learn more about how your agency and community can benefit from these grants and tips on preparing your application.
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Rideshare Coordinator Stats and Highlights
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All Electronic Tolling Statewide Update
All-electronic (cashless) tolling is implemented statewide. Tolls are collected through E-ZPass®, Video Tolling, and the latest way to pay for Maryland tolls, Pay-By-Plate. With Pay-By-Plate, tolls are automatically billed to the driver’s registered credit card as they use Maryland toll
facilities, with no need for a transponder or pre-paid toll deposit.
E-ZPass® remains the most cost-effective way to travel toll roads in Maryland, saving drivers up to 77% versus the higher rates and additional paperwork that come with Video Tolls. Always properly mount your E-ZPass® transponder and be sure your vehicles and billing information are up to date to receive the lowest toll rate for your account. Enroll in E-ZPass® or sign up for Pay-By-Plate today at DriveEzMD.com. |
The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has several exciting updates regarding embarking on the comment and outreach period for two of their plans and a grant award they recently received.
Statewide Transit Plan
The MDOT MTA has unveiled a draft of the Statewide Transit Plan designed to provide a roadmap for a comprehensive, connected transit system for current riders and for future generations. The MDOT MTA is seeking public comment on the 50-year plan that includes long-term and immediate goals to fulfill the agency mission of providing safe, efficient, and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. The draft document lists 25 transit
connections that will help the state meet future travel needs and improve access between Maryland regions and neighboring states. Significant transit connections include new and improved intercity connections to Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore, and improvements to MARC service on the Northeast Corridor such as run-through service to Virginia and extension into Delaware. The public comment period is open through February 18, 2022. Comments can be provided online here and transit ambassadors will be popping up at major transit hubs around the state to hear from the public about their transit needs. The final plan will be published in summer 2022.
Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan
The MDOT MTA, with Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County, is studying two early opportunity transit corridors from the 2020 Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan. These studies are an early step toward constructing significant, long-term transit expansion and new service in the Central Maryland Region. Click here to view a video about all of the possible connections being studied in the East-West corridor between Bayview and Ellicott City, and in the North-South corridor between Towson and downtown Baltimore. Click here to stay updated on public engagement opportunities through 2022, when the project team will share detailed information about how each proposed alternative compares across measures of reliability, ridership, economic opportunity, and many more metrics.
RAISE Transit Priority Project
This past November, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded $22 million in grant funds toward a $50 million investment to facilitate faster and more reliable transit trips between the Fox Ridge community in eastern Baltimore County through downtown Baltimore and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in western Baltimore County. The RAISE Transit Priority Project will be completed as a partnership between MDOT MTA, contributing $18
million, and Baltimore City’s Department of Transportation, contributing $10 million. This investment will bring immediate improvements to the existing CityLink Blue and Orange bus routes, including dedicated bus lanes, bus stop amenities, and bicycle and pedestrian connections. This is an exciting project to kick-off as MDOT MTA and Baltimore City are wrapping up an investment in the North Avenue Corridor which also received USDOT grant funds and kicked off in 2017. The RAISE project is
anticipated to follow a similar 3-5 year timeline.
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Stay Connected & Informed
Commuter Choice Maryland representatives are always looking for opportunities to share information about commuter benefits and tax credits, either in-person or virtually. If you have an event that you would like Commuter Choice Maryland to be a part of, or are seeking more information on commuter and
employer benefits, please contact us at commuterchoice@mdot.maryland.gov. |
For more information on Commuter Choice Maryland, please contact us at 410-865-1100 or email commuterchoice@mdot.maryland.gov. Representatives are available to assist Monday—Friday, 8:00 am—4:30 pm. Visit our website at: www.commuterchoicemaryland.com.
Stay connected through Facebook & LinkedIn
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