Join or arrange a carpool with other DISA employees by registering on the DISA Mass Transportation Program Web site. This site will match you with other DISA employees in your area who are interested in carpooling to and from Ft. Meade.

You can search for ridesharing partners using the Commuter Connections Web site. When you fill out an application, the site will match you with other individuals who have similar starting and ending destinations.

Because carpools typically consist of 2 - 4 people, coordinating work schedules and pick up/drop off locations with others is generally simple.

Vanpooling may be even more cost effective if you find a group of people who are willing to commit to participating. Vanpools are a group of 7 - 15 people who commute together on a daily basis.  One or more people volunteer to be the driver/coordinator of the van. The riders share a fee that covers the vanpool fare. Vans are leased from a third-party vanpool vendor, who ensures they are serviced regularly.

 You may choose to join an existing vanpool, or to start your own. You can search for vanpool participants using the Commuter Connections Web site.

Riders usually meet at a designated pick-up location like a shopping center parking lot or a park and ride location. Some vans have more than one pick-up point, some don't. And it's the same with drop-off points at the destination. It all depends on the needs of the vanpool group. Of course the fewer stops, the faster you'll get to work and home again.

Vanpool participants may be eligible to receive the DoD transit subsidy of up to $230 per month to pay for their participation in the vanpool. The vanpool vendor will use the information from your SmartBenefits card to apply the transit subsidy to your account.

DoD employees in the National Capital Region (NCR) who take mass transportation (to include vanpools of at least 1 driver and 6 passengers) to work are eligible to receive a fare subsidy of up to $230 per month. To participate in the program, employees should complete the application form (DD 2845), using it to calculate their estimated commuting costs. The application will be processed, and individuals notified of their eligibility to participate in the program.

The transit subsidy may be applied to Metrorail, VRE, MARC, and over 100 area bus and vanpool commuter services. For complete program details, please visit the DoD White House Services NCR Transit Subsidy page.

A driver needing additional passengers to meet the required HOV lane minimum pulls up to a " slug line " - a designated location where riders wait. The driver will lower their passenger window and call out a final destination, such as "Pentagon" or "L'Enfant Plaza." The slugs first in line for that particular destination get in the car.

No money is exchanged when slugging because both parties benefit. There is also no recurring commitment for drivers or passengers - you may choose to slug or pick up slugs every day, or only occasionally.

Slugging may help you eliminate part of your commute time. For more information, visit the Slug-Lines.com Web page.