• Ride Together Rewards: Transit Incentives Program 
• MDOT Corridor Pilot Virtual Workshop
• Ride Together Rewards: Vanpool Incentive Program's New Vanpool Vendor
• Spotlights: Holly Poultry and Nikki Trasmonte
• Resources, Commuter Choice Maryland "In The Wild," and Upcoming Events

Good news, Baltimore commuters! We recently expanded our Ride Together Rewards Program to include a new Baltimore Transit Incentive Program. During designated promotional periods, first-time transit users and employers in the Baltimore region can take advantage of exciting new incentives to try transit and save money!

For Commuters: First-time transit users can download the CharmPass mobile app, do a quick program sign up, and receive free transit passes to experience the benefits of riding transit. Since November 1, almost 220 new transit riders have taken advantage of this incentive!

Upcoming Promotional Periods:

• February 1 - 8
• March 1 - 8
• April 1 - 8

For Employers: Employers in the Baltimore region can receive up to $3,000 ($1,000 per month for three consecutive months) through the FareShare program to purchase transit passes for their employees.

As an added benefit, participating employers will be automatically enrolled in the Commuter Choice Maryland Employer Partner Program, which provides access to free resources, tools and recognition for supporting sustainable commuting options.

To check eligibility and sign up, click the button below. Additional rules and restrictions apply.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), through its Commuter Choice Maryland Program, announced an new transportation demand management initiative designed to promote alternative transportation options for businesses and commuters along a five-mile segment of MD 295, helping improve travel reliability amid impacts from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. 

The MD 295 pilot program will partner with employers to encourage alternatives to driving alone. Through targeted outreach and employer engagement, MDOT will educate businesses and employees on available commuting options and incentives. The initiative is designed to help employers along the corridor, between West Nursery Road and I-95, offer commuter benefits that support employee retention while identifying which strategies have the greatest impact on easing congestion. 

The MD 295 corridor is home to a diverse mix of work sites, including schools and medical facilities that support essential services. Since the Key Bridge collapsed nearly two years ago, the corridor has experienced reduced travel reliability and slower speeds. MDOT has adjusted construction schedules, modified traffic patterns and introduced new incentives to ease congestion and improve safety.  The corridor pilot builds on those efforts by promoting commuting alternatives. As part of the initiative, MDOT will host a virtual informational workshop on January 27, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. Employers may register here. 

Employers in the corridor can participate in four simple steps: 

1. Register for the virtual workshop to indicate interest in participating in the pilot; 
2. Work with MDOT to assess current commuting patterns through an employee survey; 
3. Implement and promote commuter benefits with MDOT’s free support; and 
4. Conduct a follow-up survey to identify outcomes and key takeaways.

Residents and commuters interested in learning more are encouraged to visit the new Corridor Pilot web page here, which includes additional resources and opportunities to get involved. The pilot program will run for six months, concluding this summer.   

As the Ride Together Rewards: Vanpool Incentive Program continues to grow, we are thrilled to introduce our newest vanpool vendor: Sympawthy, joining our existing vendor, Commute with Enterprise. RideLink by Sympawthy is a veteran-owned and operated business that delivers a comfortable, fuel-efficient option for daily commuters with their fleet of Toyota Sienna hybrid vans. To learn more about Sympawthy and the $500 monthly vanpool incentive, and to see if this service fits your commuting needs, click here.

To learn more about our Ride Together Rewards programs and to start incentivizing your commute, click the button below.

Holly Poultry

Holly Poultry, a poultry processing and distribution company located in Baltimore, employs almost 500 people, most of whom work on-site. While the facility is conveniently located near a bus stop, the cost of transportation can be a challenge for employees commuting to this major employer.

Click the button below to learn how Holly Poultry addressed this challenge and made its workplace more commuter-friendly. By providing direct assistance with transit costs and partnering with Commuter Choice Maryland, the company ensures employees are informed about their options and resources. As an added bonus, Holly Poultry leverages the Maryland Commuter Tax Credit to offset its annual tax bill.

Nikki Trasmonte’s Journey to Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

For Nikki Trasmonte, Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Coordinator at Commuter Choice Maryland (CCM), her path into transportation wasn’t direct. Before joining the CCM team, Nikki taught English in China, worked as a Legislative Compliance Analyst for an electronics recycling company, and earned her graduate degree in Sustainability Management from American University. Each experience shaped how she approaches her current role: connecting with people, understanding complex systems, and promoting sustainable behaviors. Nikki is positive, energetic and engaging while promoting transportation alternatives and incentives and helping commuters and employers alike find solutions that work for them. 

To learn more about Nikki's journey, click the button below.

Resources

• Ride Together Rewards
• MDTA Key Bridge News
• Maryland Commuter Tax Credit
• CommuterCash
• Commuter Choice Maryland Employer Partner Program
• Walktober
• Coordinated Highways Action Response Team (CHART/511)
• Statewide Park and Ride Lots Map
• Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) Green Registry

Webinars

• TDM Corridor Pilot Workshop - January 27 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• The next CCM quarterly webinar will be held on March 12, 2026. The focus of this webinar will be the Maryland Commuter Tax Credit and other employer incentives.
• Webinar Recording: Working to Improve Your Commute