After a pause and a pivot during the pandemic, DC’s neighborhood shared ride program is back

Residents looking for transit options in the city may have more choices as the DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV) brought back DC Neighborhood Connect, a shared on demand shuttle service that covers parts of wards 1, 4, and 5 last month. Beginning July 12 the service now covers parts of Ward 8.

The shuttle’s service area for Ward 8 is bordered by Pennsylvania Ave SE, Southern Ave SE, and Anacostia Freeway.

For wards, 1, 4, and 5, the service area is bordered by Georgia Avenue, Eastern Avenue, Florida Avenue, and Bladensburg Road. Both zones were chosen because they were areas with fewer transportation options and less accessibility to transportation resources such as train stations, a spokesperson with DVFH said.

Shuttles can travel to and from anywhere in each service zone, according to DFHV’s website. People can download the app to access the service or call (202) 398-0500. The service is free until September 30; after that, some rides are expected to cost $3.

Hours of service are 6:30 am to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, from 6:30 am to midnight on Friday, 8 am to midnight on Saturday, and 8 am to 10 pm on Sunday.

DC Neighborhood Connect was originally DC Microtransit, and was part of a suite of pilot programs launched in 2019 to serve residents that also included a taxi-to-rail program.

In March of 2020, the program was suspended due to the District’s public health emergency. During the pandemic, however, the program was repurposed to provide on demand late-night transportation to essential workers traveling to DC hospitals, as well as transport food to seniors, and PPE to dentist offices in the District. Service returned to the original service zone last month, and the department plans to continue the program indefinitely.

DC Neighborhood Connect has provided more than 35,000 rides since its inception, according to a DFHV spokesperson.