Here in the DC area, there are several transit options commuters have to get to and from work. With the average commute around 50 miles round trip per day, driving alone can cost nearly $800 per month and almost $10,000 a year.
Vanpooling is similar to rideshare and is an excellent option for those who commute 15 miles or more to work. Thinking about starting a vanpool at your workplace, but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Check out the first three steps to vanpool formation and download our guide and learn how you can work with Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) help you with the process.
Find the Right Contact
To start a vanpool, locate the right contact at your organization. This person might be in the Human Resources Department or in upper management. It is important to find this person because it will determine if there is access to employee zip code information to provide ride match possibilities.
Determine Benefits
Next, determine if an organization offers a $260/month pre-tax or subsidized transit benefit. Either type of benefit can be used for a vanpool andmore people are likely to join if the cost is beneficial to them.
Additional Benefits
Through Arlington Transportation Partners’ Vanpool Connect program, commuters maybe be eligible to receive $260 pre-tax or subsidized benefit. Riders can also earn rewards through rider referrals.
Zip Code Mapping and Potential Riders
Mapping potential riders is a very important part of the process when you start a vanpool at your organization. At this stage, you have the opportunity to collect the zip codes from employees who could potentially be matched to a form a vanpool. The ideal number of employees is 100, and preferably there are more than 250. Follow the steps below to successfully map riders.
- Collect zip codes via a survey or ask for zip codes from the main contact
- Share zip code information with a vanpool provider like Enterprise Rideshare, who can map the results. Alternatively, you can map the results yourself
Ready to learn about what else it takes to form a vanpool in less than three months? Check out our Vanpool Formation Guide that provides step-by-step instructions and resources.
