Riding transit, carpooling, vanpooling, walking and bicycling are transportation choices provided to people to better our quality of life. People have said to me, I would ride transit, but how would I get home in case of an emergency? Now I have an answer for them. Starting in 2004, the citys Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program is offering a new benefit: Guaranteed Ride Home. The Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program works with the citys larger employers to provide them with information on how to better get their employees to work. The overall goals are to reduce the number of cars traveling and parking in Glenwood Springs and allowing people to have more transportation choices. Guaranteed Ride Home programs provide an occasional subsidized ride to commuters who use alternative modes. For example, if a bus rider must return home in an emergency, or a carpooler must stay at work later than expected, employees will be able to utilize company vehicles, local taxi companies or a rental car agency when they require an emergency ride. Employees will be able to get full reimbursement for their emergency transportation needs. The city is trying to make the program as easy as possible to accomplish its goals: reducing congestion, providing a pleasant place to work and live, and enhancing our quality of life. Everyone benefits when people are using alternative modes of transportation and do not have to worry about getting home when an emergency or unplanned event happens. Employees and employers benefit because it makes for a better work environment. Glenwood Springs benefits because more people are using alternative modes of transportation and further reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles.Glenwood Springstransportation update Construction is under way on a new downtown fire station at the corner of 8th and Cooper. Two-way traffic will be maintained, but lane shifts are in place. The Grand Avenue Waterline Replacement is nearly complete. Crews will be completing water services and replacing pavers in the sidewalk area on Grand Avenue. Traffic impacts are not expected and parking impacts should be minimal. Construction will continue at the Highway 82 and 23rd Street Intersection Improvement project. Expect lane shifts for southbound traffic as work proceeds. The access to South Grand Avenue will remain closed. Access to 23rd Street will be closed intermittently. The pedestrian crossing of Highway 82 remains closed. Utility work is scheduled in the southbound lanes of Highway 82 near 19th Street on Wednesday through Friday. Motorists should expect southbound traffic to be reduced to one lane between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Left turns will be prohibited between 19th and 20th streets.Transportation Responsibility & You, one day at a time!Information: 384-6437 or e-mail to try@ci.glenwood-springs.co.us. This column appears every other Monday to explain how each person in our community can make a difference in our quality of life.