Ready to make rethinking your commute part of your New Year’s resolution? Whether you would like to save money, reduce stress, or lower your carbon footprint, Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) has resources to help you succeed. While there are many ways to commute that can help achieve these goals, one we’d like to highlight is starting or joining a vanpool. Below we’ll share information on vanpooling, incentive programs that make it more accessible and affordable, and ways ATP can help get you started.
What Is a Vanpool?
Vanpools work like carpools but on a larger scale. In a vanpool, four or more people share a rented van or large vehicle for their daily commute, splitting the cost among participants. This option is ideal for those living more than 15 miles from work and near others with similar schedules and traveling from similar locations. Vanpooling offers several major benefits, allowing commuters to:
- Use transit benefits to reduce commuting costs
- Access HOV lanes for faster travel
- Enjoy a less stressful, more relaxing ride
- Take advantage of financial incentives like VanSave, Vanpool Alliance, and ‘Pool Rewards
Vanpool Incentive Programs
Vanpool Alliance
Vanpool Alliance is a public-private partnership dedicated to supporting vanpools operating in Northern Virginia. Their mission is to make commuting easier while reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. They provide assistance with setting up or joining a vanpool and support for employers looking to establish vanpools for their teams. Additionally, they have an incentive program which provides up to $400 monthly per qualifying vanpool. To qualify, vanpools must have seven or more riders, operate in Northern Virginia, and be open to the general public.
VanSave
Funded by Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), VanSave helps existing vanpools stay operational when riders unexpectedly leave. It provides financial assistance while new riders are found and offers grants to vanpool providers like Enterprise to make vanpooling more sustainable in urban areas such as Northern Virginia. This allows vanpools to keep their costs stable while new riders are recruited to the vanpool.
‘Pool Rewards
Operated by Commuter Connections, ‘Pool Rewards provides incentives for both vanpools and carpools. If you form a vanpool this year, you may be eligible for a $200 monthly incentive for vanpools with seven or more riders. Commuter Connections also offers other programs to make vanpooling a great option for commuters, including Flexible Vanpool, which assists vanpool operators and coordinators with advertising their open seats, and Guaranteed Ride Home, which allow commuters up to six free rides home a year if they utilize some form of sustainable commuting, like vanpooling.
How ATP Can Help
Vanpooling is a smart, cost-effective, and sustainable way to commute, but getting started can be overwhelming. That’s where ATP comes in. Our Business Development Managers can provide personalized consultations to help your organization understand the benefits of vanpooling and work with you to determine if starting one is the right fit for your team.
Beyond consultation, ATP can provide assistance during every step of the process, from forming a vanpool to education on how to utilize transit benefits toward the program. We’ll also connect you with trusted vanpool providers and share valuable resources, including our Vanpool Formation Guide, FAQs, and detailed information about vanpool programs. You can also get more vanpooling information and resources from ConnectingVA.
Ready to take the next step? Reach out to your Business Development Manager today and let ATP help you create a commuting solution that saves money, reduces stress, and supports sustainability.
Photo Credit: Chris Teale/arlnow.com; www.studio39.com; www.pikenotes.com; www.arlington.org; www.tripadvisor.com