A hydraulic hybrid powertrain system includes a power plant generating a high pressure fluid at an output, at least one drive motor responsive to the high pressure fluid for generating rotary motion at an output, and a mode selection device connected to the power plant output and the drive motor for selecting a mode of operation from a plurality of drive motor modes of operation including at least two of a drive mode, a neutral mode, a reverse mode and a park mode. The system includes a control device connected to the power plant and the drive motor for controlling operation of the drive motor in the plurality of modes of operation, a selectively actuated brake device for interrupting high pressure fluid flow to the drive motor, and a check valve bridge circuit for connecting the drive motor to a low pressure fluid source when the brake device is actuated.