A new rideshare program is intended to provide lower-income citizens with access to a vehicle and decrease the area’s carbon footprint.

The program has been in operation for several months but was commemorated with a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday that drew about 30 people from the Port Townsend city government, the Chamber of Commerce, OlyCAP, and other agencies.

Currently, there are two vehicles in operation; one at the Chamber offices, 2409 Jefferson St., and at the Seventh Haven apartments at the corner of Seventh and Hendricks St.

The cars belong to ZEV.Coop of Bainbridge Island, which hopes to network the entire state with rideshare options.

Drivers interested in participating need to visit the ZEV.Coop web page to sign up. After a screening, they download an app that allows them to reserve a vehicle for a specific time. The cost is a sliding scale, with an average $5 hourly rate (although those who cannot afford this will get an adjustment).

OlyCap director Cherish Cronmiller said the local program needs about 50 registered drivers locally to become sustainable.

“There are families that struggle with car ownership and maintaining a vehicle,” she said. “Car-sharing programs allow users to share the costs of transportation, making it more affordable for low-income individuals.”

There are no restrictions on rideshare use. Once borrowed, a family could use it for a doctor’s appointment in Silverdale or a trip to the Sequim WalMart. They are asked to return the car half-charged, or allow an extra hour for it to be topped off.

Seventh Haven property manager Karen Bondurant said the program has been “wildly successful” so far, and expects it to be more so when an ADA-compliant van is added to the local fleet.

“Climate change matters in a town that is surrounded by water,” said Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It matters to a town that has really checked in to being part of the solution. We are a step ahead and will continue to be so.”