Flextime program offers incentive to commuters who choose to avoid sitting in traffic

Virginia is considering a system that would detect the number and location of empty and full street parking spaces in the Crystal City area (above) and the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor to raise prices on busy blocks and lower prices where there are more spaces available. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)(AP/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON — A new program for commuters can send you alerts, warning that your route is heavily congested, and enter you in a raffle if you choose to stay off the road.

It’s called the Commuter Connections Flextime Rewards program. To qualify, your commute needs to be on one of four corridors that are notorious for bottlenecks during peak morning and evening travel times: 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.

The qualifying routes are:

Interstate 495 Inner Loop — between VA-267 and I-270 Spur;
I-495 Outer Loop — between I-95 and MD-193;
I-66 EB at VA-267; and
DC-295 SB at Benning Road.

The routes that are eligible for the Commuter Connections rewards program. (Courtesy Commuter Connections)

“At the end of the month, we do a report and we figure out how many people [delayed their trip]. Did they get the notification? Are they on one of these segments? And, if so, then we’re going to choose one of them, and they’re going to get a prize,” Commuter Connections Director Nicholas Ramfos said.

Participating commuters will be eligible for a monthly raffle to win $100.