Transportation Services for Older Adults & Persons with Disabilities

Our Commitment to you.

Montgomery County is committed to providing mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities.

All of Ride On's buses are wheelchair accessible. The County's transit system is one of the best in the country. It consists of Ride On, Ride On ExtRa, Flex and Flash buses. Currently, all COunty buses are $1 to ride. However, seniors, members of the disabled community and youth all ride free with specialized SmartTrip cards. Although provided by WMATA, Metrobus and Metrorail are also accessible to residents throughout Montgomery County. MCDOT and WMATA often work together to help promote special transportation programs such as Call-n-Ride, Same Day Access, Medicaid Transportation and MetroAccess.

Montgomery County RIDE ON Buses

See Ride On routes and schedules.  

​Seniors and Persons with Disabilities ride FREE on all county Ride On buses, and select Metro buses in Montgomery County, at all times.

• Metrobus Routes Offering Free Rides Include: 
  • C2, C4, C8, F4, J1, J2, K6, K9, L8, Q1, Q2, Q4, Q5, Q6, T2, Y2, Y7, Y8, Z2, Z6, Z7, Z8
• Riders must show the bus operator one of the following
  • Senior SmarTrip Card
  • Reduced Fare SmarTrip Card (formerly Disabled card)
  • Medicare card with a current photo ID
  • Metro Access Card
• Riders should "tap" their Senior, Reduced Fare, or Metro Access SmarTrip card on the farebox upon boarding

Learn more about:

• How to get a Senior SmarTrip® card
• Ride On Fares and Transfers
• Ride On Routes & Schedules

Connect-A-Ride (CAR)

• Call 301-738-3252, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.|  connectaride@AccessJCA.org

CAR is a free referral service that provides adults over 50 and adults with disabilities information about their transportation options for medical services, errands, social activities and more.

CAR links callers with public, private, and volunteer transportation services, including escorted transportation.

In addition, the program assists callers with their applications for transportation programs like Call-n-Ride and Metro Access. They also offer free workshops on how to use public transportation.

CAR is funded by Montgomery County Government and operated by Jewish Council for the Aging

Metro Access - Regional Paratransit Service

Complementing the transit system in the County, MetroAccess is a shared-ride, door-to-door, paratransit service for people whose disability prevents them from using bus or rail.

For more information

• Call 301-562-5360 or TTY 301-588-7835

• Visit the MetroAccess website

To apply for Metro Access service

• Call 202-962-2700 and select option 1, or TTY 202-962-2033 or

• See Metro Access eligibility requirements and application online

Call-n-Ride (CNR) Program 

This Montgomery County program provides subsidized taxi trips for low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities. The service helps transport participants to medical and/or personal appointments.

To be eligible for the Call-n-Ride Program, you must be

• low income and at least 63 years of age, or
• low income and 18-62 years of age with a disability.

This program is designed as a supplement to Montgomery County’s local transportation service. All trips must begin and end in Montgomery County. Special exceptions have been made to allow transportation to approved medical facilities in Designated Service Areas.

• Participating companies include
  • Action Taxi
  • Anytime Taxi
  • Regency Taxi / Barwood Taxi
• Program participants can schedule trips by calling 301-948-5409.
  • For additional information, including how to apply for program participation, call Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m..

PLEASE REFER TO THE CNR PARTICIPANTS’ GUIDES FOR PROGRAM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

Subsidy assistance is provided on a sliding fee scale determined by total household income.

The income categories for family/household of one are as follows:

Call-n-Ride Resources

1. CNR Participants’ Guide
2. CNR Participants’ Guide Overview
3. CNR Application Form
4. CNR Disability Form
5. CNR Recertification Form
6. Designated Service Areas (DSA) List

See our latest Call-n-Ride brochure

Same Day Access (SDA) Program

This Montgomery County Transportation Program is part of the Call-n-Ride (CNR) program, designed to provide subsidized transportation services for certified MetroAccess participants who reside in Montgomery County.

To become a new Same Day Access participant, you must first register. A completed application with supporting documentation is required in order to verify your eligibility.

1. SDA Participants' Guide 
2. SDA Participants' Guide Overview 
3. SDA Application Form 
4. SDA Recertification Form 
5. Designated Service Areas (DSA) List 

All Montgomery County Residents who have current MetroAccess Identification cards qualify to receive $60.00 value on their Call-n-Ride swipe card, when they pay $30.00.

All trips must begin and end in Montgomery County. Special exceptions have been made to allow transportation to approved medical facilities in Designated Service Areas.

PLEASE REFER TO SDA PARTICIPANTS’ GUIDES FOR PROGRAM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

Call-n-Ride and Same Day Access Swipe Card Access

The Participant Swipe Card Web Portal is an internet interface that allows participants to manage their cards.  You can access Montgomery County’s CNR Swipe Card Participant Portal module by visiting:  www.eztransport.net/mococnr/members. Participants can add value to their cards and also check account information.  Participants must register online before they can access their account over the internet.  Once registered, participants can view their balances, print statement, view transactions, manage profile, report a lost, stolen or damaged card, contact customer service, and/or make a payment.

For general information, application and recertification questions please call Call-n-Ride at 301-948-5409, Connect-A-Ride at 301-738-3252, or the MC 311 Call Center by dialing 311.

For all your Call-n-Ride Swipe Card issues, balance information, payment form, transaction issues, reporting a lost, stolen or damaged card, and ordering a new card please call CNR/ MJ Management at 1800-980-6564. Lost or stolen CNR swipe cards must be reported immediately by calling Call-n-Ride/MJ Management Services at 1-800-980-6564. Cards reported lost or stolen are immediately cancelled and deemed invalid by Call-n-Ride/MJ Management Services and any remaining balances on the lost or stolen card will be transferred to your replacement card. There is a $5 replacement fee for lost or stolen cards, payable to MJ Management Services, 6300 Blair Hill Lane, Suite 301 Baltimore Maryland 21209.

Translation Service: The CNR program recognizes the diversity of Montgomery County residents. To facilitate the CNR program services for Non-English speaking participants, a translation service has been established to assist with the scheduling of CNR trips with the taxicab companies’ dispatchers. This translation service can only be used to communicate with CNR staff.

To use the CNR translation service:

• Dial 1– 866-998-0338
• Enter Account # 15071
• Enter Pin # 6101
• Enter your Client ID (Your CNR ID #)

You will be connected to the next available Client Services Representative. Please provide your first & last name and state the language you need. You will be asked to hold, while you are being connected to an interpreter. Once connected, the interpreter can help you schedule your trips with the taxicab company dispatch or assist you in communicating with the Call-n-Ride staff.

The taxicab companies’ dispatch operators and CNR staff also have access to the translation service in order to assist you with trip scheduling or other CNR needs.

Medical Assistance Transportation Program

• Information Line: 240-777-5890
• Trip Scheduling Line: 240-777-5899
• Fax: 240-777-5891
• email: Medicaidtransportation@montgomerycountymd.gov

Services

The Medical Assistance Transportation grant program provides transportation services for Medical Assistance recipients who reside in Montgomery County, and need transportation to access medically necessary services. This program provides “last resort” transportation for ambulatory, wheelchair and stretcher-bound recipients who have no other means of transportation available to get to and from medical appointments, or whose medical or physical needs prevent them from using such available transportation.

Scheduling Transportation Services

The Medicaid Transportation Office schedules transportation Monday – Friday, (except holidays), between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-12:00 noon.  The telephone number for scheduling transportation is: 240-777-5899. When calling, you will be asked a list of screening questions, to determine eligibility.  Transportation may be scheduled up to seven (7) days in advance. However, in order to guarantee next-day transportation service, your request must be made no later than 12:00 noon, on the working day  before transportation is required. (The office does not provide emergency transportation or “same day” service, with the exception of hospital discharges.)

Eligibility

This service is available to transport Montgomery County residents with eligible, non-restrictive Medical Assistance (Medicaid) to medical services that are covered by Medical Assistance, and for which there is no other means of transportation.

The Maryland State Department of Health requires medical certification for all recipients. The recipient must demonstrate that they have no other available transportation, or that they are physically unable to utilize other existing transportation services.

To be certified for participation in the program, each recipient must have their physician complete a Provider Certification form.

Frequently Used Forms:

• Statewide Medical Assistance Transportation Certification Form
• Statewide Medical Assistance Transportation Transfer/Discharge Form
• Statewide Medical Assistance Provider Certification Form for Out of Area Transports
• Authorization for Release of Information
• Notice of Privacy Practices
• Application Process and Instructions
• Request for Authorization​

Volunteer Transportation -  Senior Connection

Senior Connection offers rides and assistance getting groceries for County residents over age 60.

For more information about Senior Connection

• Call 301-962-0820
• go to www.seniorconnectionmc.org or,
• email susan.girard@seniorconnectionmc.org

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Escorted Transportation - Connect-A-Ride

Escorted transportation is available for adults who qualify based on income and disability. 

Contact JCA's Connect-A-Ride program to apply for this program:

• Call 301-738-3252, or
• email ConnectARIde@accessjca.org.

Additional Transportation Resources

• MCDOT Senior/Disabled Transportation Options Zoom Outreach Meeting (November 2020) Watch the recording. Servicios de Transporte para Adultos Mayores de 50 años y Personas con Discapacidades.​
• Department of Health and Human Services Transportation Resources page
• Transportation Network Directory for People with Disabilities & Adults 50+
• Transportation Options in Montgomery County
• Information and Spoken Interpretation in Other Languages​

FREE Taxi Rides to COVID Vaccination, Testing and Mask Pick Up Sites for Seniors 65+ and People With Disabilities

A 2022 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award Winning Program.

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