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Bridges Resource Library Resources Transportation information

Paratransit in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area of Maryland

Updated as of July 22, 2024.

At times, public transportation may not serve our needs due to availability or scheduling needs, but taxis and ride-share services like Uber and Lyft can be very expensive to use. Paratransit, including Call-A-Ride, offers transportation that is more individualized to your needs than public transportation while being less expensive than ride-share and taxi options.

Please find below information about paratransit services in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area: Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.

Montgomery County

Montgomery County Paratransit

Montgomery County Ride On, Ride On extRa, Flash, and Flex buses
  • Free rides

Connect-A-Ride (CAR)

Call-n-Ride (CNR) Program, including the Same Day Access (SDA) Program

  • Subsidized taxi fares (pay less than face value for “Call-n-Ride swipe card”)
  • Subsidy based on age or disability eligibility and low income (cost of a $60 swipe card is $5.25 to $30, depending on income and family size)

Medical Assistance Transportation Program

  • Eligibility: Montgomery County residents who receive Medical Assistance and who need transportation in order to access medically necessary service
  • Available Monday – Friday, (except holidays), between 8:30 am and 12:00 noon; may schedule up to 7 days in advance (no same day service available)

MetroAccess Paratransit

  • Door-to-door transportation; Shared-ride vehicles

MetroAccess Abilities-Ride Program

  • MetroAccess decides whether to send the regular MetroAccess shared-ride vehicle or to have a taxi cab or sedan provide the trip (curb-to-curb rather than door-to-door service).
  • If ride is moved to an Abilities-Ride vehicle, customer gets a private ride, and fare is free
Check the Bridges Resource Library’s Montgomery County Transportation Information entry for more details.

Prince George’s County

Prince George’s County offers paratransit services to its disabled residents through several different programs.

Call-A-Bus

  • Hours of service are 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday (excluding County holidays).
  • Make a reservation up to 7 days in advance: Call 301-499-8603 between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday (excluding County holidays). Same day requests are accepted, but are subject to availability of resources.
  • Municipal Call-A-Bus: The following municipalities provide their own Call-A-Bus service.

Call-A-Cab

  • Discounted taxi fare coupons: Disabled County residents may purchase up to fourteen $20 coupon books in a six-month period at $10 per book.

Senior Transportation Services

  • Includes younger individuals with disabilities who are Prince George’s County residents
  • Medical Program
    • Offers transportation throughout the County for medical purposes
    • Call 301-499-8603 up to 7 days in advance to schedule routine medical appointments. May also request on-going or permanent transportation for medical purposes, such as dialysis treatment, in writing.

Microtransit – PGC Link

  • Service Hours: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, accepts only same day reservations. Wait times for service are subject to vehicle availability and demand.

MetroAccess Paratransit

  • Door-to-door transportation; Shared-ride vehicles

MetroAccess Abilities-Ride Program

  • MetroAccess decides whether to send the regular MetroAccess shared-ride vehicle or to have a taxi cab or sedan provide the trip (curb-to-curb rather than door-to-door service).
  • If ride is moved to an Abilities-Ride vehicle, customer gets a private ride, and fare is free

Call-A-Bus

  • Hours of service are 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday (excluding County holidays).
  • Make a reservation up to 7 days in advance: Call 301-499-8603 between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday (excluding County holidays). Same day requests are accepted, but are subject to availability of resources.
  • Municipal Call-A-Bus: The following municipalities provide their own Call-A-Bus service.

Call-A-Cab

Senior Transportation Services

  • Includes younger individuals with disabilities who are Prince George’s County residents
  • Medical Program
    • Offers transportation throughout the County for medical purposes
    • Call 301-499-8603 up to 7 days in advance to schedule routine medical appointments. May also request on-going or permanent transportation for medical purposes, such as dialysis treatment, in writing.

Microtransit – PGC Link

  • Service Hours: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, accepts only same day reservations. Wait times for service are subject to vehicle availability and demand.

MetroAccess Paratransit

  • Door-to-door transportation; Shared-ride vehicles

MetroAccess Abilities-Ride Program

  • MetroAccess decides whether to send the regular MetroAccess shared-ride vehicle or to have a taxi cab or sedan provide the trip (curb-to-curb rather than door-to-door service).
  • If ride is moved to an Abilities-Ride vehicle, customer gets a private ride, and fare is free
Check the Bridges Resource Library’s Prince George’s County Transportation Information entry for more details.

Moving Forward

Please reach out to us at the Bridges Helpdesk for anything from exploring your options to finding out what you’re eligible for to formulating an ambitious travel plan for the first time. We’re here to make sure you have the tools and resources you need to explore our state without emptying your wallet.

Please contact the Free Bridges Helpdesk anytime

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.

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