Teton County OKs $6,500 “Guaranteed Ride Home” pilot for alt commuters
On March 3, 2026, the Teton County Board of County Commissioners approved a $6,500 pilot to reimburse emergency rides home for workers who commute by bus, carpool, bike or walking, with draft rules slated for a later 45‑day public-comment period.
Teton County commissioners approved a new “Guaranteed Ride Home” (GRH) pilot program on March 3, allocating up to $6,500 in existing Transportation Division FY2026 funds to reimburse emergency rides home for workers who commute using alternatives to driving alone. The program is framed as a low-cost “insurance policy” to reduce a key barrier to trying START, carpools/vanpools, biking or walking. (Guaranteed Ride Home Pilot Program Staff Report)
Under the proposed guidelines, eligible participants are employees working in Teton County who commuted that day via START bus, carpool/vanpool, bicycle or walking. Riders would pay for an eligible taxi or app-based rideshare trip home and seek reimbursement within 30 days; reimbursements exclude gratuity. Annual limits are set at four uses or $300 per participant per 12-month registration period, whichever comes first. (Guaranteed Ride Home Pilot Program Staff Report)
Commissioners’ approval authorizes staff to draft the formal rules governing the pilot and bring them back to the board to start a 45-day public-comment period, followed by a later vote on final rules. Staff also said they plan to report back to the BCC and the START board in July/August 2026 on early results and potential FY2027 funding needs. (Guaranteed Ride Home Pilot Program Staff Report)
Background
Teton County is rolling out new transit routes in phases, prioritizing cost-neutrality and operator housing by incentivizing employers to provide housing, with major service changes set for FY 28.
Latest: 2029-07 — Continued incremental service growth and evaluation of Transit Development Plan progress.
curated as of 2026-05-27
Teton County’s transit network expansion is directly tied to the availability of new employee housing, with phased implementation and over $45 million in public funding committed to major housing projects.
Latest: 2026-2051 — Full build-out of employee housing and transit-linked projects may extend up to 25 years, with phased delivery tied to development and occupancy milestones.
curated as of 2026-05-27
No direct $59,500 allocation exists; Teton County's transportation initiatives are funded through larger grants like the $25M BUILD grant, with implementation milestones from 2025 to 2030 and broad stakeholder involvement.
Latest: 2030 — Strategic plan horizon for transportation and sustainability actions, with periodic updates.
curated as of 2026-10-07
Source Documents
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| March 3, 2026 | Guaranteed Ride Home Pilot Program Staff Report | staff report |