Program at a Glance

  • Contract Partner: City of Richmond

  • Program: Ride To Work RVA

  • Organization: The Sandra D. Foundation

  • Service Area: Richmond and surrounding communities

  • Trips Provided: 315+ per week

  • On-Time Performance: 98%

  • Ride Completion: 98%

  • Operating Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  • Technology: Proprietary transportation management platform

  • Mission: Removing transportation barriers to employment

Reliable. Accessible. Safe.

Reliable. Accessible. Safe.

Ride To Work RVA

Ride To Work RVA is the flagship program of The Sandra D. Foundation, created to remove one of the most common barriers to employment: reliable transportation.  
Through our contract with the City of Richmond, we provide free, dependable transportation that helps eligible individuals access employment opportunities, maintain consistent attendance, and build long-term economic stability. By ensuring participants can get where they need to be safely and on time, Ride To Work RVA helps transform transportation from a barrier into a pathway toward opportunity.
City of Richmond

  • Ride To Work RVA provides transportation that supports workforce participation and employment success.

    Services include:

    • Transportation to and from work

    • Transportation for eligible dependents

  • Ride To Work RVA serves eligible individuals who are working toward employment or maintaining employment through referrals from the City of Richmond’s Free Ride To Work Program.

    Participants may include:

    • Individuals receiving public assistance

    • Workforce development participants

    • Individuals transitioning into employment

    • Parents and caregivers working toward economic stability

  • Reliable transportation is one of the most significant factors affecting employment success.

    Without dependable transportation, individuals may experience:

    • Lost employment opportunities

    • Tardiness

    • Attendance challenges

    • Difficulty maintaining long-term employment

    Ride To Work RVA exists to help eliminate these barriers by providing consistent, reliable transportation that supports workforce participation and job retention.

  • Ride To Work RVA has grown into a proven workforce transportation model serving the Richmond region.

    Program Highlights:

    • Approximately 315 employment-related trips completed each week

    • 98% on-time performance

    • 98% ride completion rate

    • 15 active drivers

    • Dedicated dispatcher providing scheduling and participant support

    • Commercially insured transportation program

    • Transportation management technology supporting trip tracking, reporting, payroll, and invoicing

    • Established operating procedures that promote consistency, safety, and accountability

    Our continued growth demonstrates both the need for dependable workforce transportation and the effectiveness of our operating model.

Driving
Snapshot from inside a car showing a two-lane road winding through a forested area with trees and foliage on both sides.
A person driving a vehicle through a rural area with open fields visible through the window.
RTW Dispatcher
City of Richmond

Our Mission

To connect working individuals and families to employment opportunities by providing free, dependable, and accessible transportation solutions. We are committed to eliminating transportation challenges that impact job retention and economic stability.

Our Partnership with The City of Richmond

Ride To Work RVA operates through a contract with the City of Richmond to provide transportation assistance for eligible participants.
The program supports the City's efforts to reduce barriers to employment by helping residents access and maintain meaningful work through reliable transportation.
Working alongside City partners, Ride To Work RVA delivers transportation that is safe, dependable, and professionally coordinated, allowing participants to focus on building successful careers while employers benefit from improved attendance and workforce reliability.
Since launching the program, Ride To Work RVA has experienced significant growth, demonstrating both the demand for workforce transportation and the effectiveness of our operating model.
Program growth includes:
  • Expanded from approximately $350 in weekly invoicing during the program's early stages to more than $9,000 during full operating weeks
  • Approximately 315 employment-related transportation trips completed each week
  • 98% on-time performance
  • 98% ride completion rate
  • Dedicated dispatch coordination
  • Commercially insured transportation services
  • Established operating procedures that ensure consistency, accountability, and high-quality customer service
The continued success of Ride To Work RVA has established a proven workforce transportation model that The Sandra D. Foundation is now expanding through partnerships with workforce agencies, employers, and community organizations.
Partnership
Close-up of a circular badge or seal with the words "City of Richmond Established" and a stylized silhouette of a person against a blue background, surrounded by a gray, rope-like border.
Virginia Department of Social Services logo with a stylized blue circle and lines, and text in blue reading 'Virginia Department of Social Services'.

  • "Absolutely love the great communication with the Ride to Work staff, very efficient with responses and very prompt rides to and from work. Drivers are very nice with great music selections and conversations."

    — Valued Rider

  • "It is very helpful and I definitely appreciate you all. All workers are very respectful and kind, I enjoy."

    — Valued Rider

  • "The clients are a great connection of how people see things or view things. I am a people person and as a retired driver it gives me something to look forward to each day."

    — Valued Driver

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about Ride To Work RVA, eligibility requirements, available transportation services, and how the program works.Each response distills our comprehensive experience into actionable insight, demonstrating how we optimize operations and implement solutions that advance your objectives with measurable precision.

  • Ride To Work RVA currently serves participants who have been approved through the City of Richmond's Free Ride to Work Program. To be eligible, participants must meet the City's program requirements, which currently include receiving qualifying public assistance benefits (such as TANF and Medicaid) and having at least one dependent. Eligibility is determined by the City of Richmond and may be updated as program guidelines change. For the most current eligibility requirements, please refer to the City of Richmond's Free Ride to Work Program or contact us for additional information.

  • Ride To Work RVA provides free transportation to and from work for approved participants. As part of the program, transportation for a participant's dependent child(ren) is also available when the parent or legal guardian is traveling in the vehicle. This allows working parents to transport their children to and from school or daycare while commuting to or from work, in accordance with program guidelines.

  • No. Transportation is provided free of charge to participants who have been approved through the City of Richmond's Free Rides to Work Program. The program is funded through the City of Richmond to help eliminate transportation barriers that affect employment and economic stability.

  • Applications and eligibility determinations are managed through the City of Richmond's Free Rides to Work Program. Individuals interested in participating should complete the City's registration process and provide any required eligibility documentation. Once approved, Ride To Work RVA coordinates transportation services for eligible participants.

  • The Sandra D. Foundation is actively expanding transportation partnerships with employers, workforce agencies, and community organizations. Additional transportation opportunities are available as new partnerships are established.