Travel
Information Bulletin
March 2002
Understanding
the Guaranteed Ride Home Program (GRH)………..!
The
role of the SMART COMMUTE Program is to continually work with Westchester
County Employers in encouraging the use of alternatives to drive-alone
commuting. Last month, we
brought you a list of strategies to implement at your worksite that
require employer involvement, and which encourage the use of commute
alternatives among employees. One
of these strategies is the Guaranteed Ride Home Program, which is also
known as an Emergency Ride Home Program.
This month we bring you information on the fundamentals of GRH.
-
A
GRH is a free or subsidized ride provided to employees who use commute
alternatives to accommodate occasional needs to get home in case of a
personal or work-related emergency.
Emergency need considers such things as the need for
unscheduled overtime, sudden illness or emergency at home, or the
breakdown of rideshare vehicle.
The sponsor may choose to pay for a taxi, to use contracted car
rentals, or to offer company vehicles.
Whatever the choice, GRH serves to remove the concern of an
employee of being stranded at work.
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GRH
can be implemented by an employer or third party such as a rideshare
service or transit company.
The choice may involve use of taxi rides reimbursed by the
program sponsor; car rentals contracted by the employer, or the use of
a voucher system to simplify and track billings.
Company vehicles provided by the employer may also be used for
GRH.
-
The
GRH policy must specify usage directives, such as: eligibility – all
employees or only those who use alternatives to drive-alone commuting;
what trips are eligible – work related, commute or family related
emergency; maximum number, cost or miles of usage in a period; what
staff or department is in charge of program implementation; what
procedures are to be followed.
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There
are a number of basic issues to bear in mind in the implementation of
a GRH program: the program must be tailored to support the commute
options chosen at the workplace; the identification of potential
providers and their requirements; the calculation of benefits and
costs to the employer (nationwide survey shows average use is about 13
rides per 100 eligible employees per year); the eligibility, usage and
determination of whether to use vouchers or employee re-imbursement;
the continued promotion of the program and assurance that service,
when needed, is fast and reliable.
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For
further information and on-site assistance, Westchester County
Employers should call Metropool, Inc. at (914) 993-6474.
As
always, for more information and for any of your commute needs, please
call Westchester’s SMART COMMUTE Program at (914) 995-4444, or e-mail us
at tvo1@westchestergov.com
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