NORFOLK, Va., — Commuting in Hampton Roads is costly. Gas, tolls, insurance, maintenance – it’s enough to drive you nuts.
But there’s a smarter way to get to work.
With ridesharing options such as carpooling, vanpooling, emergency rides home, transit, biking, walking, park-and-ride lots and telecommuting, goCommute helps commuters save time and money, reduce traffic congestion, decrease stress and improve air quality.
goCommute, previously known as TRAFFIX, is the first name change since the region’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program began in 1995.
With a refreshed brand, goCommute aims to reach additional audiences and adapt to changing demographics.
The program, operated by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), is funded through the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) with a mission to advocate for sustainable transportation by connecting employers and commuters with free resources and innovative solutions.
“goCommute is among HRT’s comprehensive transportation solutions, offering information and services about commuting options,” said William E. Harrell, HRT’s President and CEO. “This new brand represents a renewed commitment to educate, develop and implement commuter programs that reduce the use of single-occupancy vehicles.”
Benefits for commuters and employers
goCo offers commuters and their employers money-saving and stress-busting benefits to commute smarter. And with variable tolling being introduced with the expanded Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel project, sharing a ride to carpool or vanpool will have even greater benefits.
The program includes:
- Ride matching and commuter rewards: goCo offers carpool matching, connecting you with neighbors, colleagues and friends who are commuting to the same place you do. Find your match and get rewards from local and national sponsors when you share the ride, use transit, telework, walk, or bike to your destination. Participants use the ConnectingVA app to log trips to earn points for discounts, coupons and monthly raffles.
- Guaranteed ride home: With the ConnectingVA Guaranteed Ride Program in partnership with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, you get a reliable ride back to your point of origin if you have an unexpected family emergency after you arrive at work, become ill, or if you need to work unscheduled overtime. If you are a full- or part-time employee and use a carpool, vanpool, or ride transit to commute to work, this guaranteed ride will get you home when life’s unanticipated events happen.
- Vanpool assistance: Vanpooling is a convenient, cost-effective way for employees to get to work. goCo partners with Commute with Enterprise, enabling commuters to lease a 7- to 15-passenger van or SUV to share a ride to work. The total cost, including insurance, maintenance, fuel and tolls, is divided among the riders. goCo provides a monthly $500 subsidy to each qualified commuter.
- Park & Rides: Use convenient free public parking to park your car so you can transfer to a carpool, vanpool or transit such as bus, light rail or ferry. There’s no charge to park in these lots. You can register at gocommute.org.
- Bike Boost: The program donates and installs free bike racks and repair stations to make it easier to commute on two wheels.
- GoPass365 is an annual commuter farecard for HRT services that includes bus, ferry, light rail and trolley. Employers, colleges and business consortiums can purchase discounted passes to save commuters the cost of paid parking and gas. This also reduces the need for valuable parking spots and decreases the carbon footprint of businesses and organizations. Employers may offer a monthly commuter benefit to employees who use transit or vanpool for commuting. This benefit can be provided as either pre-tax or direct. In 2024, the IRS permits a tax-free amount of up to $315 per month for transit and vanpool expenses.
goCommute serves the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg and the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry and York.
In fiscal year 2024, the program saved 4 million traveled vehicles miles, reducing emissions by 1,727 tons.
To learn more, visit www.goCommute.org.