Employer Solutions
A vanpool is group of seven to fifteen commuters who have joined together to ride to and from work, saving time and money. There are three kinds of arrangements:
- Owner operated vans - You lease or purchase a van and operate it independently. Riders meet at a central location and pay you a set monthly fee.
- Third-party vans - A vanpool vendor leases the van for a monthly fee. The monthly lease fee is paid by the group of riders.
- Employer-provided vans - The employer buys or leases vans for employees' commute use. The employer organizes the vanpool riders and maintains the vehicles. The employer may charge a fee to ride in the van or subsidize.
Starting Up a Vanpool
If you are new to vanpooling, you can join or start up one for just $50 a month, under a new vanpool incentive offer. Contact Virginia Megaprojects vanpool expert Felicia Woodruff at f.woodruff@VAmegaprojects.com or 703-586-0618 for guidance to help you get started with vanpooling.
VanStart/VanSave
The Virginia VanStart Program provides financial support for new vanpool formations. The program temporarily subsidizes empty seats during the start-up phase of new vanpools. The program is open to all new vanpools that register for assistance with a local rideshare program. Assistance is granted at the discretion of the local Rideshare Program based on eligibility of the applicant.
The Virginia VanSave Program provides financial support for established vanpools that experience a sudden loss of passengers. This program is also administered through local rideshare programs.
Vanpool Benefits
- Vanpooling is one of the best ways to commute if you live 15 miles or more away from your workplace
- Compared to driving alone, vanpooling can cost significantly less
- You can read, sleep, or socialize while avoiding the stress of driving
- You may receive a subsidy of up to $230 a month from your employer for vanpool fares
- Vanpooling allows employers to offer an extra tax free fringe benefit to their employees at very little cost to themselves
- HOV lanes can be used to save valuable time, bypassing traffic jams and gridlock
- Helps to reduce traffic congestion by moving more people with fewer cars
