Commute.org
Commute.org is the designated Transportation Demand Management agency for San Mateo County, California, operating as a joint powers agency that provides free shuttle services, the CommuteStar rewards platform, and employer programs to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips among county commuters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSouth San Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Commute.org does
Commute.org, legally known as The Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, is a Joint Powers Agency (JPA) designated as the official Transportation Demand Management (TDM) agency for San Mateo County, California. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in South San Francisco, the organization comprises 19 cities and towns plus the County of San Mateo, and received formal accreditation from the Association for Commuter Transportation in February 2025. Its mission is to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by incentivizing alternatives to single-occupancy driving, serving individual commuters, employers, property managers, real estate developers subject to the C/CAG TDM Policy, transit users, and community organizations across nearly 400,000 workers in the county.
Commute.org firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Commute.org
- Legal name
- The Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance
- Website
- https://commute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Commute.org is the designated Transportation Demand Management agency for San Mateo County, California, operating as a joint powers agency that provides free shuttle services, the CommuteStar rewards platform, and employer programs to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips among county commuters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Commute.org industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Transportation Demand Management Services
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485), Urban Transit Systems (48511)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Employee Commute Programs & Shuttle/Vanpool Management (TLABALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate MaaS & Commuter Benefits Platforms (THADALAG), Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration (BPAIACAM)
Keywords
Where Commute.org is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Commute.org business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Grants and Public Funding: Primary funding from San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA), C/CAG of San Mateo County, and Bay Area Air Quality Management District. These public agencies provide grants supporting shuttle operations, commuter programs, and TDM initiatives.
- Private Sector Shuttle Contributions: Private employers, property managers, and sponsoring cities contribute funds to the shuttle program. These contributions help fund specific shuttle routes and consortium membership.
- Vanpool Subsidy Administration: Commute.org administers the San Mateo County Vanpool Subsidy Program funded by the Transportation Authority, providing up to $500/month to qualified vanpools. Also administers MTC Bay Area Vanpool Program subsidies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Shuttle Service |
| Freemium | Others | CommuteStar Rewards Program |
| Subscription | Monthly | Vanpool Subsidy Program |
| Freemium | Others | Employer Services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Commute.org product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Commute.org is San Mateo County's Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Transportation Demand Management agency, providing free commuter services including shuttle transportation (20+ routes), carpool/vanpool matching and subsidies, bicycle rewards, transit pass programs (Try Transit, Caltrain GoPass Forward), and a Guaranteed Ride Home benefit. Through its CommuteStar digital platform, it rewards commuters for choosing sustainable transportation modes, while its Employer Services and Certified Development Program extend TDM support to businesses and real estate developers across the county.
Product overview
Commute.org is San Mateo County's Transportation Demand Management (TDM) agency offering a unified platform of sustainable commuting programs. The core product is CommuteStar - a free app and web platform (powered by RideAmigos) that helps commuters track, plan, and coordinate sustainable transportation options. Around this central platform, Commute.org offers complementary services including a free shuttle network (20+ routes connecting to BART, Caltrain, and SF Bay Ferry), the Guaranteed Ride Home emergency reimbursement program, and various reward programs (carpool/vanpool, bicycle, and transit). Additional services include employer engagement programs with recognition tiers, developer certification for TDM compliance, vanpool subsidies up to $500/month, and income-based assistance programs like the Caltrain GoPass Forward distribution. The ecosystem is designed to reduce vehicle miles traveled by incentivizing alternatives to driving alone.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CommuteStar: A free app and web tool that empowers commuters to plan, track, and coordinate sustainable commute options, earn rewards, and participate in challenges. Powered by RideAmigos platform.
Products and services
- CommuteStar Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 9,956 commuters tracked 1.8 million trips in 2025 (CommuteStar 2025 Impact Report)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Commute.org
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Commute.org technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
Commute.org partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SamTranscoreProgram partner providing public transit services in San Mateo County. Commute.org coordinates shuttle connections to SamTrans routes and promotes SamTrans programs including Way2Go employer pass program and Special Services (Ride Plus, Paratransit).
- CaltraincoreProgram partner operating commuter rail service. Commute.org partners on Pass Forward Program distributing free GoPasses to eligible residents, and shuttles connect to Caltrain stations throughout the county.
- SF Bay FerrycoreProgram partner providing ferry service. Commute.org operates Oyster Point Ferry shuttle connecting to SF Bay Ferry terminal.
- BARTcoreProgram partner providing Bay Area Rapid Transit service. Multiple shuttle routes connect to BART stations including Daly City, Balboa Park, and South San Francisco BART.
- Metropolitan Transportation CommissioncoreRegional transportation planning agency and funding partner. Commute.org participates in MTC programs including Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program and Bay Area Vanpool Program with subsidies up to $600/month.
- Spare the Air Community Resource TeamminorCommunity resource partner focused on air quality awareness and pollution reduction programs in the Bay Area.
- Association for Commuter TransportationcoreIndustry association that provided TDM Organization accreditation to Commute.org in February 2025. Offers resources and networking for transportation demand management professionals.
- TransFormminorResource partner providing transportation advocacy and planning resources to help commuters and employers.
- Silicon Valley Bicycle CoalitionminorResource partner offering bicycling resources, programs, and events. Commute.org co-produced 5-part bike education online seminar series with SVBC.
- Commute with EnterprisecoreVanpool vehicle rental partner. Vanpools must rent vehicles through Commute with Enterprise to qualify for Commute.org's San Mateo County Vanpool Subsidy Program (up to $500/month).
- Right Click Solutions Inc. (RideAmigos)coreLicensed technology provider for CommuteStar website and mobile application. The RideAmigos platform powers trip tracking, carpool matching, rewards management, and commuter challenges.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Commute.org competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Enterprise Commute / Commute with Enterprise: Enterprise's vanpool rental program is Commute.org's required vehicle partner for the Vanpool Subsidy Program. It is a vendor/ecosystem participant enabling Commute.org's vanpool offering rather than a direct competitor.
- Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT): ACT is the industry association that accredited Commute.org as a TDM Organization in February 2025. It is the governing body setting professional standards for TDM agencies like Commute.org and a resource/ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.
Direct peers
- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Commute: VTA operates the neighboring Santa Clara County commuter assistance program with employer outreach, shuttle coordination, and TDM policy enforcement. It is the most directly comparable county-level TDM agency operating adjacent to Commute.org's territory.
- Sonoma County Transportation Authority: SCTA administers transportation programs including TDM initiatives for Sonoma County commuters. It is another Bay Area county-level transportation authority with overlapping mandate around commuter programs and employer engagement.
- Napa Valley Transportation Authority: NVTA operates Napa County's Vine Transit and TDM-style commuter programs including vanpool subsidies and employer partnerships. It is a comparable county-level public agency delivering commute alternatives in a single Bay Area county.
- Solano Mobility: Solano Mobility runs Solano County's TDM program, providing carpool matching, employer outreach, vanpool incentives, and a Guaranteed Ride Home analog. It is a structurally similar single-county TDM agency to Commute.org.
Emerging players
- Luum: Luum provides commute management software to large employers, including trip tracking, carpool matching, and mode-shift incentives. It targets a different buyer (corporations) than Commute.org but overlaps substantially on functionality offered to end commuters.
- RideAmigos (Right Click Solutions): RideAmigos is the SaaS platform vendor that powers CommuteStar. As a white-label TDM software provider sold to other agencies and employers, it sits adjacent to Commute.org as the technology enabler for similar programs nationwide.
Broad incumbents
- Caltrans (California Department of Transportation): Caltrans sets statewide TDM and VMT policy that flows down to county-level agencies like Commute.org. It is a broader incumbent whose climate and equity mandates shape Commute.org's funding environment.
- Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) - 511 SF Bay: MTC operates the regional 511 SF Bay traveler information platform and funds Bay Area-wide commute programs including vanpool subsidies. It is the broader regional authority that Commute.org partners with and whose Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program framework Commute.org helps enforce.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Commute.org social profiles
Digital presenceCommute.org compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Commute.org financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Commute.org leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Commute.org funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Commute.org M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Commute.org
What does Commute.org do?
Commute.org is San Mateo County's Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Transportation Demand Management agency, providing free commuter services including shuttle transportation (20+ routes), carpool/vanpool matching and subsidies, bicycle rewards, transit pass programs (Try Transit, Caltrain GoPass Forward), and a Guaranteed Ride Home benefit. Through its CommuteStar digital platform, it rewards commuters for choosing sustainable transportation modes, while its Employer Services and Certified Development Program extend TDM support to businesses and real estate developers across the county.
Is Commute.org a public or private company?
Commute.org is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Commute.org founded?
Commute.org was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Commute.org based?
Commute.org is headquartered in South San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Commute.org make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Grants and Public Funding is the primary driver. The others are private Sector Shuttle Contributions and vanpool Subsidy Administration.
Who are Commute.org's main competitors?
Others on record are Enterprise Commute / Commute with Enterprise and Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT). Direct peers are Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Commute, Sonoma County Transportation Authority, Napa Valley Transportation Authority and Solano Mobility. Emerging players are Luum and RideAmigos (Right Click Solutions). Broad incumbents are Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) and Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) - 511 SF Bay.
Does Commute.org have an API?
No public API is recorded for Commute.org.
What industry is Commute.org in?
Commute.org's product category is Transportation Demand Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLABALAE, Employee Commute Programs & Shuttle/Vanpool Management, with a secondary code of THADALAG, Corporate MaaS & Commuter Benefits Platforms. Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.