Take the stress out of your commute! The Kitsap Transit Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program will reimburse your emergency ride home for anyone who qualifies as a Smart Commuter and works or goes to college in Kitsap County.

How does the program work?

If you are a registered Smart Commuter, work or go to college in Kitsap County and took an alternative mode of transportation other than driving alone to work or campus, or have commuted in a Kitsap Transit vanpool or Worker/Driver bus, you can get a Guaranteed Ride Home. When you use alternative transportation options – carpooling, vanpooling, public transit, bicycling, walking or riding a ferry as a walk-on passenger – you can be reimbursed for your GRH if an unexpected circumstance arises. Taxi, Uber and Lyft rides or equivalent options may qualify for reimbursements. 

You can get a Guaranteed Ride Home if:

• You or an immediate family member experience an illness or crisis.
• Your carpool or vanpool ride is unavailable due to unexpected changes in the driver’s schedule or vehicle breakdown.
• You experience bicycle problems, including a flat tire, mechanical failure, vandalism, or theft.
• You are required to work unexpected overtime that you were not anticipating before the start of the workday. Supervisor authorization is required.
• A home emergency, such as a break-in, fire, flood or similar emergency, occurs at your residence.

Guaranteed Ride Home is not available in the event of a major disaster and may NOT be used for:

• Personal errands
• Inclement weather
• Transit service failure
• Pre-scheduled overtime or appointments
• Pre-planned medical appointments
• Business-related travel
• Working late with at least one day's prior notice or without a supervisor's request
• Trips to the hospital in place of ambulance service (for injury or illness)
• Trips to a doctor’s office or hospital resulting from an on-the-job injury

Reimbursement

For reimbursement, fill out this online form.
A copy of your receipt is required and must be received within 30 days of the trip. Most taxi companies will provide a receipt by request. For trips booked through a mobile app, you can generally find a record of your completed trip in the “ride history” menu or by email.

Kitsap Transit will pay up to $125 of a Guaranteed Ride Home trip that originates in Kitsap County, including the portion of the trip into Jefferson, Mason, Thurston or Pierce County. Kitsap Transit will not pay for the cost of a ferry ride or any portion of a trip into King County. Tips are discretionary and will not be paid by Kitsap Transit.

Each employee can be reimbursed for up to four GRH trips per year. Single trips cannot exceed $125 and total reimbursement per calendar year cannot exceed $500.

Review the GRH Program Rules for more details.

Resources

Download the How to Use Guaranteed Ride Home flyer to share with colleagues and to post in break rooms.