Contact (Media Only): Erik Linden (202) 671-2004 and Karyn LeBlanc (202) 671-3490
(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) today started an innovative program to spur greater use of transit and ridesharing by commuters affected by this summer’s repairs of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge (sometimes referred to as the South Capitol Street Bridge). The program will help commuters affected by DDOT’s planned July-August closure of the bridge.
Modeled after a successful similar effort carried out by the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, DDOT’s “Bridge Bucks” program will provide $50 per month toward transit fares and vanpool fees to encourage commuters to switch out of their cars and into an alternative travel mode.
By providing financial resources and personal advice on transit services, the program enables individual commuters to utilize alternative travel options that best work for their particular lifestyle—whether via rail, bus or vanpool.
“Our goal is to keep commuters moving smoothly and safely as we undertake these much-needed improvements to the Douglass Bridge,” said Emeka Moneme, Director of DDOT. “Our Bridge Bucks program will help ease some of the burden of the July-August Douglass bridge closure. The program empowers each participating individual to chart the course of his or her ideal alternative commute.”
To raise awareness of Bridge Bucks and the July-August total closure of the Douglass Bridge, DDOT is launching a major public outreach campaign. The “no surprises” awareness campaign will keep the public informed of the closures, promote Bridge Bucks and commuting alternatives, and recommend detour routes. Starting this week, the campaign features creative radio ads that are placed to catch the attention of drive-alone commuters who use the Douglass Bridge and to motivate a change in how they get to and from work.