MD 295 Corridor Pilot

(West Nursery Road to I-95)

Working Together to Improve the Commute along MD 295

Commuter Choice Maryland, an MDOT program, has completed a pilot focused on improving the commute along the MD 295 Corridor between West Nursery Road and I-95. The pilot ran from January through July 2026, and CCM continues to promote sustainable commuting options throughout the region.

Read more about the goals of the pilot and the lessons we learned below. For more on CCM’s active work, visit this page.

MD 295 Pilot Corridor Project area, Inner Harbor to BWI Airport

About the Pilot

Commuter Choice Maryland used the pilot to direct resources toward improving the commute along MD 295 Corridor between West Nursery Road and I-95. The MD 295 corridor is home to a diverse mix of work sites, including schools and medical facilities that support essential services. Since the Key Bridge collapse, the corridor has experienced reduced travel reliability and slower speeds. This pilot provided free support for employers to establish or improve commuter benefit programs, as well as targeted outreach to employees to inform and encourage them to try new commuting options.

The pilot's goals were to:

• Increase employer participation in commuter benefits,
• Encourage commuters to try other modes besides driving alone, and
• Share knowledge from the pilot with other employers and in other corridors.

What We Learned:

The pilot wrapped in July 2026. Working hands-on with 11 employers along the corridor, we tested new outreach tactics and learned what it takes to support employers and commuters. A few takeaways:

• There’s an awareness gap around existing commuter benefits. A significant share of survey respondents reported first learning about CCM's programs through the Corridor Pilot—as many as half, depending on the specific program.
• CCM outreach helps influence behavior: 12% of survey respondents reported changing how they commute after learning about CCM programs.
• Employers need sustained, practical support. Ready-to-use materials and regular check-ins helped Employer Advocates stay engaged.
• Change takes time. Registrations for Commuter Connections, carpool and vanpool, and Commuter Cash rose significantly during the pilot, but shifts in travel behavior will take longer to appear.
• Marketing tactics delivered different results depending on the goal. Spotify was the most cost-efficient tactic for generating account creations, while the Baltimore-area business-owner email blast was most effective for driving webpage views. The pilot established cost benchmarks that can help match future tactics to campaign goals.

Learn More:

• Read the blog post: An overview of the pilot and some more reflections on what we learned. Coming soon!
• Read the full report: MD 295 Corridor Pilot Reflections details what we did, how we did it, and lessons for future TDM efforts.
• Watch the webinar recording: Hear the team share results and answer questions.

Interested in Commuter Choice Maryland beyond the MD 295 corridor?
Check out our statewide resources for employers and commuters.

Press

• Maryland Department of Transportation Launches Pilot to Promote Commuting Options Along MD 295 - MDOT (1/16/2026)
• New Pilot Promoting Commuting Options Along MD 295 (1/27/2026)