Guaranteed Ride Home Program
The EASTGATE Rideshare program, as an "assurance policy" for carpoolers and vanpoolers, established a Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program for all commuters in Mahoning, Trumbull, and Ashtabula counties. One of the biggest worries commuters express about carpooling or vanpooling is not having a car readily available for use in case an emergency arises during working hours. That's why Rideshare established the GRH program, which reimburses commuters 80% (or a maximum of $60.00) of the costs incurred in using a taxi, bus, or rental car to get home in the event of an unforeseen emergency. To be eligible for the GRH program, a commuter must be registered with the Rideshare program and carpool or vanpool to work at least three days per week. Each commuter is eligible to use the GRH program four times per year.
The following situations are considered appropriate reasons for using the GRH program:
- unexpected overtime resulting in the missing of a carpool or vanpool
- illness or injury to the commuter or the commuter's family, necessitating early departure from work
- vehicle break-down at work
- other appropriate emergency situations
The following situations are not considered appropriate reasons for using the GRH program:
- expected overtime resulting in the missing of a carpool or vanpool
- scheduled doctor or dentist appointments
- business-related travel
- early work dismissal due to snow or inclement weather
- break-down at work with no other transportation
