# Washington County, Pennsylvania MATP: Freedom Transit's Shared Ride and Who Drives It

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/washington-county/ · Updated 2026-09-30

In Washington County, Pennsylvania, Freedom Transit, the Washington County Transportation Authority, runs MATP from 50 East Chestnut Street in Washington, at 724-223-8747. It screens riders and carries MATP trips on its shared ride vans, free to the rider. Freedom Transit buys the vans with grants and pays private contractors to drive them, so outside companies get this work through its operations contracts and supplier list.

- Freedom Transit runs Washington County MATP and buys the vans with grants, but private contractors drive them.
- MATP made up about 38% of its shared-ride trips in fiscal 2024-25, 65,849 of 172,250.
- Shared ride hours and Pittsburgh service shrink on October 1, 2026, and higher fares are expected within the year.
- Its September 1, 2026 board agenda carried an item to formalize its intent to become a direct operator.
- Get on the suppliers list and follow the board agendas so you hear about the next operations contract.

## Washington County NEMT at a glance

| Fact | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Who runs MATP | Freedom Transit, the Washington County Transportation Authority, 50 East Chestnut Street, Washington 15301 |
| Phones | 724-223-8747 or toll free 800-331-5058. Customer service weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| State model | County vendor, per the June 25, 2026 state study: the vendor handles both rides and administration |
| Who drives | Private contractors: Transdev around Washington and Canonsburg, and Tri County Access in the Mon Valley (September 2026) |
| MATP trips | 65,849 of 172,250 shared-ride trips in fiscal 2024-25, per PennDOT, with 45 vehicles in peak service |
| MATP money | $2,121,116 of $8,473,842 in operating funds in fiscal 2024-25. Purchased transportation cost $6,205,397. |
| Hours from October 1, 2026 | Shared ride runs weekdays 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no Sunday service |
| Pickup window | 30 minutes, 15 either side of the requested time, or up to 90 minutes on longer trips |
| Full fare | $15 for trips under 2 miles to $55 for 25 miles or more, by road miles. MATP riders pay nothing. |

## Who arranges rides here

- [Freedom Transit (Washington County Transportation Authority)](https://freedom-transit.org/matp/): Screens MATP riders, books their shared rides, and runs the county program. (724) 223-8747
- [Freedom Transit, suppliers list](https://freedom-transit.org/about-us/doing-business-with-freedom-transit/): Sends requests for quotes and proposals to registered companies.
- [Freedom Transit board of directors](https://freedom-transit.org/about-us/freedom-transit-board-meetings/): Awards the operations contracts, meeting the first Tuesday of each month.
- Transdev, Washington and Canonsburg area: Drives Freedom Transit shared ride and fixed route service under contract. (724) 746-4342
- Tri County Access, Mon Valley area: Drives Freedom Transit shared ride service in the Mon Valley under contract. (724) 379-6802

Washington County, Pennsylvania runs MATP through its transit authority, Freedom Transit, which puts Medicaid riders on the same shared ride vans as seniors and riders with disabilities. Freedom Transit does not drive those vans itself. It calls itself a "non-operating" agency: it buys the vehicles with grants and pays private companies to maintain and drive them. That makes its operations contracts the real prize for a transportation company.

## Who runs MATP in Washington County, PA

Pennsylvania has no statewide Medicaid ride broker, and only Philadelphia uses one, so each county's MATP looks different. The [Pennsylvania guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/) covers the state rules, Public Utility Commission authority, and insurance.

The county commissioners created the Washington County Transportation Authority in April 2001 to direct its human service transportation, which the county's Department of Human Services had overseen and a private broker had managed. On July 1, 2015 it merged with Washington City Transit, the city's bus system, and took the name Freedom Transit. Seven directors appointed by the commissioners govern it, and they meet at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Washington Transit Center.

The June 25, 2026 state study lists Washington as a "county vendor" program: the vendor handles both the rides and the administration, and the county cannot claim MATP administrative costs. DHS requires Freedom Transit to screen every applicant and assign the least expensive mode that fits:

- **Bus tickets** for riders who live on or near a fixed route, with appointments set around the bus schedule.
- **Reimbursement** for riders who take the bus on their own or drive a private vehicle.
- **Shared ride**, including wheelchair lift vans when needed, at no charge to the rider.

## Who drives the vans

Freedom Transit's driver job page, as of September 2026, sends applicants to its two subcontractors:

| Contractor | Area | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Transdev, 724-746-4342 | Washington and Canonsburg | Shared ride and fixed route |
| Tri County Access, 724-379-6802 | Mon Valley | Shared ride |

Its annual report for fiscal 2024-25 (July 2024 to June 2025) shows how much of the budget goes to those contracts. Of $8,503,719 in operating expenses, $6,205,397 was purchased transportation. MATP brought in $2,121,116 of the $8,473,842 in operating funds, behind only the state operating subsidy. That year it also bought three small buses to replace shared ride vehicles past their useful life.

### MATP by the numbers

PennDOT's fiscal 2024-25 profile of Freedom Transit's shared ride:

| Shared-ride trips | Fiscal 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| Riders 65 and older | 66,690 |
| MATP | 65,849 |
| Persons with disabilities | 18,683 |
| ADA complementary paratransit | 12,696 |
| Other | 8,332 |
| Total | 172,250 |

MATP was about 38% of all trips, almost level with the senior program. The average fare was $26.74, the average cost $37.00 a trip, and 45 vehicles ran at peak. In a 2025 survey the state study cites, Freedom Transit surveyed about 300 of more than 2,700 recent riders: 96% were satisfied, 51% had no other way to travel, and shorter return-trip waits topped their wish list.

## How MATP rides work on Freedom Transit

Every rider registers before the first trip. The shared ride page sets the rules drivers and riders work to:

- **Door to door, with limits.** Drivers help riders from pickup to drop-off but cannot give lift assistance or move wheelchairs. Every vehicle is ADA accessible except the Veterans Transportation Program vehicle.
- **Booking.** Up to 14 days ahead, and by noon the day before. Monday rides are due by noon the Friday before, and holidays do not count as business days.
- **Pickup window.** Riders get a 30-minute window, 15 minutes either side of the requested time. Longer trips can carry a 90-minute window, called a run time. See [pickup windows](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/pickup-window/) for how this compares.
- **Same-day rides.** Inside the county only, on weekdays, requested between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and never guaranteed.
- **Cancellations.** At least one hour before the trip, at 724-223-8747.
- **Riders along.** Aides ride free. Companions pay the full fare unless they qualify for a program themselves.

Fares follow road miles on the most direct route, not the miles a rider spends on board. The full fare runs $15 under 2 miles, $22 from 2 to 3.99 miles, $29 from 4 to 6.99, $35 from 7 to 11.99, $42 from 12 to 19.99, $49 from 20 to 24.99, and $55 for 25 miles or more. MATP riders pay nothing, and seniors pay 7.5% of the fare on medical trips.

## What changes on October 1, 2026

Freedom Transit says costs are rising faster than its funding, and it is cutting shared ride service on October 1, 2026:

1. **Shorter hours.** Service ends at 7 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
2. **Less Pittsburgh service.** Trips to and from downtown Pittsburgh run at set times on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, plus Mondays for central and northern county riders. Friday and Saturday Pittsburgh trips end.
3. **No early long runs.** Early morning run-times with few riders, from outlying areas such as the Mon Valley into the Washington and Canonsburg areas and back, are discontinued.
4. **Fewer holidays.** Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day carry only dialysis trips, ending at noon.

Freedom Transit expects more changes over the next year, including higher fares, and its August 4, 2026 board agenda listed a shared ride fare increase application. Its April 7, 2026 agenda listed award recommendations for its fixed route and paratransit services procurement. Its September 1, 2026 agenda listed an item to formalize the authority's intent to become a direct operator.

## How a transportation company gets this work

1. **Get your PUC authority.** Any paid trip that starts and ends in Pennsylvania needs it. The [state guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/) lists the steps and the $350 fee.
2. **Join the suppliers list.** Send Freedom Transit's Supplier Registration Form by mail to 50 East Chestnut Street, by fax to 724-223-9474, or by email with "Suppliers List" in the subject. Registered companies hear about its requests for quotes and proposals.
3. **Read the federal clauses.** Contracts paid with Federal Transit Administration money carry the third-party provisions on its business page, and DBE credit needs Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program certification before you bid.
4. **Follow the board.** The direct operator item and the paratransit procurement both went through monthly board agendas. Watch them to see whether contracted driving continues, and when.
5. **Ask the contractors.** Transdev and Tri County Access may need subcontractors or drivers. Our guide to [subcontracting NEMT trips](https://nemtguide.com/guides/subcontract-nemt-trips/) covers the terms to settle first.
6. **Fill the gaps.** Weekday trips after 7 p.m., Saturday trips after 6 p.m., Sunday trips, Friday and Saturday trips to Pittsburgh from October 1, 2026, and stretcher trips all fall outside the shared ride. Stretcher trips go to the rider's health plan, such as Highmark Wholecare, and other riders may pay privately. On Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day the shared ride carries only dialysis trips, ending at noon, which leaves afternoon [dialysis rides](https://nemtguide.com/guides/dialysis-transportation/) uncovered.

Neighboring counties buy rides differently. [Allegheny County](https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/allegheny-county/) books door-to-door MATP trips onto ACCESS and its four carriers, and in [Greene County](https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/greene-county/) and [Fayette County](https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/fayette-county/) the county itself is the MATP provider, per the state study.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the phone number for MATP in Washington County, PA?

Call Freedom Transit at 724-223-8747, or toll free 800-331-5058. Customer service answers Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office and Washington Transit Center are at 50 East Chestnut Street, Washington 15301. Riders fill out the MATP eligibility form, and Freedom Transit assigns the cheapest ride that fits their needs.

### Is Freedom Transit the same as Washington County MATP?

Freedom Transit runs MATP for the county, along with its senior shared ride, persons with disabilities, ADA paratransit, and veterans programs. It is the Washington County Transportation Authority, created by the county commissioners in April 2001 to manage human service transportation that a private broker used to handle. Its seven board members are appointed by the commissioners.

### How far ahead do I book a Freedom Transit MATP ride?

Up to 14 days ahead. For a Tuesday to Saturday ride, call by noon the day before. For a Monday ride, call by noon the Friday before, and holidays do not count as business days. Same-day rides inside the county can be requested on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., but they are not guaranteed.

### What changes in Washington County shared ride on October 1, 2026?

Shared ride ends at 7 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Pittsburgh trips run only at set times on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, plus Mondays for central and northern county riders, and stop on Fridays and Saturdays. Early morning long-distance runs end, and Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day carry only dialysis trips until noon.

### How can my transportation company work with Freedom Transit?

Freedom Transit buys its driving through operations contracts, so fill out its Supplier Registration Form to receive its requests for quotes and proposals. Its federal contract clauses apply to transit-funded work. You can also ask its current contractors, Transdev and Tri County Access, about subcontract or driver work, and you need PUC authority for any paid trip.

### Do Freedom Transit drivers help wheelchair users?

Drivers help riders from pickup to drop-off, but they cannot give lift assistance or move wheelchairs. Every Freedom Transit vehicle is fully ADA accessible except the one used for the Veterans Transportation Program, which Freedom Transit runs with the VA to reach the VA medical centers in Pittsburgh. Aides ride free.

## Official resources

- [Freedom Transit: Medical Assistance Transportation Program](https://freedom-transit.org/matp/)
- [Freedom Transit: Doing business and supplier registration](https://freedom-transit.org/about-us/doing-business-with-freedom-transit/)
- [Freedom Transit: Board meeting agendas](https://freedom-transit.org/about-us/freedom-transit-board-meetings/)
- [Freedom Transit: Shared ride service reductions, October 1, 2026](https://freedom-transit.org/sharedrideupdates/)
- [Pennsylvania PUC: Motor carrier forms and applications](https://www.puc.pa.gov/motor-carrier/forms-applications/)