FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2026
CIRTA holding a Commuter Challenge in May to encourage residents to try transportation alternatives
Free carpool matching and more available
With the average price of a gallon of unleaded gas at $4.42 in the state, there’s never been a better time to look at other options for getting around besides driving alone.
Enter the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority’s Commuter Challenge!
Every day in May that you log an eligible commute to work, you’ll be entered to win a $500 gift card.
Eligible commutes are:
- Carpooling
- Vanpooling
- Riding a bus
- Riding a Workforce Connector
- Working from home
- Biking
- Walking
To log commutes, you must register for a free membership at https://commuterconnect.us/register-now/. Once registered, you download the CIRTA app from Apple or Google Play.
Every time you log an eligible commute, you’ll get another entry for the $500 gift card prize. Plus, you’ll see your daily cost savings and your positive environmental impact.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to save money commuting is to carpool. CIRTA’s free matching service will help you find others whose schedule and home/work locations are similar to yours.
- Sign up at https://commuterconnect.us/employees/carpool/.
- Get a carpool match list in 24 to 72 hours.
- Contact the people on the list and determine how often you’d like to carpool.
- Make arrangements and start carpooling.
CIRTA also matches cyclists, operates Workforce Connectors to job sites in Plainfield and
Whitestown, provides bus schedule help, forms vanpools and more.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Jen Schmits Thomas, JTPR, jen@jtprinc.com, 317-441-2487
New transportation program between Hamilton and Hancock counties starts April 6
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2026
New transportation program between Hamilton and Hancock counties starts April 6
For the first time, anyone needing a ride between Hamilton and Hancock counties has access to public transportation with a single call for a flat fee.
The new program – One-Call Connect – was developed by the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) and Hamilton County Express, RIDE Hancock.
Because of the way public transportation funding works, transit providers typically cannot cross county lines. As a result, transit users have to find other transportation when traveling from one county to another.
Working in collaboration, One-Call Connect partners have arranged for a connection point in McCordsville where passengers can easily transfer from one county’s service to the other’s.
“People don’t think about crossing county lines. They just want to get where they need to go,” said Jennifer Gebhard, executive director of CIRTA. “One-Call Connect will create a more streamlined user experience for people in Hamilton and Hancock counties. We see this as a pilot program that will provide data on ride demand, as well as opportunities for future cost efficiencies throughout the region.”
One-Call Connect is open to everyone in Hamilton or Hancock counties, and trips can be for any purpose – medical appointments, shopping, visiting family, etc. The cost to ride is $8 cash each direction, paid to the drivers at pick up. A round trip costs $16, which is significantly less than the cost of comparable trips using commercial transportation services.
Trips must start in one county (Hamilton or Hancock) and end in the other (Hamilton or Hancock). All vehicles are ADA accessible. Riders will transfer from one vehicle to another at Leo’s Market and Eatery, 8956 N. 600 West, McCordsville. Drivers will stay with riders until the next vehicle arrives and assist riders with the transfer if needed.
Trips within one county are handled by Hamilton County Express or RIDE Hancock.
TO BOOK A ONE-CALL CONNECT TRIP
• Call CIRTA at 317-327-7433 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Trips must take place Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Trips must be booked 48 hours in advance but not more than 2 weeks ahead.
Hamilton County Express, a service of Janus Developmental Services, provides reservation-based transportation for the general public in Hamilton County.
RIDE Hancock, a service of Hancock County Senior Services, provides reservation-based transportation for the general public in Hamilton County.
The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) enhances transportation connectivity to the benefit of residents and businesses across the 10-county region.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
CIRTA
Jen Schmits Thomas, JTPR, jen@jtprinc.com, 317-441-2487
Hamilton County Express
Ben Platz, Senior Transportation Manager, JANUS, bplatz@janus-inc.org, 317-773-2688
RIDE Hancock
Suzanne Derengowski, Executive Director, Hancock County Senior Services, suzanned@hcssi.org, 317-462-3758
Commuter Benefits limit to increase in 2026
The IRS has increased the limit for pre-tax transit benefits from $325/month to $340/month in 2026. This means more savings for businesses and employees!
What are pre-tax transit benefits?
The IRS tax code 132(f) allows companies to offer up to $340/month of tax-free commuter funds to each employee, either as an employer-paid subsidy or a pre-tax deduction from employees’ paychecks. This money can be used to cover the costs of commuting on public transit (including buses and vanpools) and qualified parking expenses, or both.
Employees can save up to 30% on their commuting cost using pre-tax transit benefits. Employers also benefit by saving up to 8% per participating employee through reduced payroll taxes, making pre-tax benefits a win-win.
How can my business utilize this limit increase? Call or email our team at 317-327-7433 or info@cirta.us
Car Free Day aims to create cleaner, healthier communities
Residents encouraged to ditch solo drives in favor of carpools, bikes, buses on Sept. 19. Central Indiana residents who want cleaner air and healthier communities are planning to take part in Car Free Day on Sept. 19 by carpooling, biking, taking a bus or walking to work. For those who have the ability to work from home, telework also counts. Read more
Zero fare rides from Indy to industrial parks in Plainfield and Whitestown roll out Jan. 2
The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) and businesses in the Plainfield and Whitestown Economic Improvement Districts (EIDs) are launching a promotional offer of zero-fare rides on Workforce Connectors in 2024. Read more
Central Indiana residents to celebrate Car Free Day on Friday, Sept. 22
Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) is encouraging all Central Indiana residents to participate in Car Free Day on Friday, Sept. 22 by traveling via carpool, vanpool, bike, bus or foot. Read more
Commuter Connect provides another way to get around
Commuter Connect, a federally-funded service created through the Central Indiana Regional Transport authority (CIRTA), provides local residents with the opportunity for alternative means of transportation. It’s also something Assistant Director Jen Gebhard wants the community to know is an option. Read more
Gas prices too high? One organization wants to help Morgan County residents carpool
MARTINSVILLE - As gas prices throughout the area surge, Morgan County residents are looking for ways to save a bit of money at the pump. Read more
Commuter Connect
INDIANAPOLIS — As gas prices surge, Commuter Connect, links Hoosiers with ride share options to help them arrive to their destination. Read more
Bus line considered for western part of county
HANCOCK COUNTY — A transportation organization is considering creating a bus service for getting Indianapolis residents to and from jobs in warehouse-heavy western Hancock County. Read more
Helping commuters carpool as gas prices continue to climb
As gas prices continue to rise, there are options for Hamilton County residents to save money.
Commuter Connect, a service of Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA), offers free and low-cost transportation alternatives to commuters who may be greatly impacted by the soaring gas prices. Read more
Commuters, work-from-homers and anyone else who drives a vehicle in Central Indiana asked to go car-free or car-lite on Sept. 22
To mark International Car Free Day this year, Central Indiana residents working from home, as well as those commuting to work by carpool, vanpool, bike, bus and walking, are encouraged to take the online pledge to be car free or car lite on Wednesday, Sept. 22.