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N.C. Air Awareness Program >> Triangle Commute Options

Triangle Commute Solution: Vanpool
Vanpooling is economical and easy! A vanpool is made up of eight to fourteen commuters who live and work near one another and share similar working hours. Employers who participate in SmartCommute@RTP work with Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) to provide vanpool as a commute alternative to employees. Vanpool is especially convenient for commuters living in areas where transit service is not available. Some employers and transit authorities offer a Guaranteed Ride Home program for vanpools, making it even more appealing as a commute alternative. To be considered for a TTA vanpool, one leg of the trip must begin or end in Wake, Durham, or Orange counties. TTA provides the van, pays for the gas, and arranges, oversees and pays for all maintenance. Riders simply pay a low monthly fare (http://www.ridetta.org/vanfares.html) based on round-trip mileage and drivers ride for free. TTA currently maintains 49 vanpools (http://www.ridetta.org/vanrtsch.html) with additional routes under development (http://www.ridetta.org/vanrtbf.html). The driver of the vanpool rides for free. Vanpool riders usually establish a convenient central meeting place, such as a park and ride lot for pick-ups drop-offs. All TTA vans have AAA coverage, which includes 24-hr roadside assistance. Rewards of Vanpooling Financial savings Stress reduction A more productive commute More control over your work schedule Vehicle maintenance reduced Premium Parking spaces at some organizations Possible lower insurance premiums (check with your insurance agent) Reduced traffic congestion Improved air quality now and for future generations Reduced need for parking Guaranteed Ride Home Triangle Guaranteed Ride Home Programs Getting Started Employer Ridematching Services Your transportation coordinator or human resources department may be able to provide information on existing vanpools at your company, or they may provide you with the names of co-workers who live near you so you can start a new vanpool. Some employers offer preferred parking, a guaranteed ride home program, and other incentives for vanpools. Ask your employer if they have a transportation coordinator, ridematching service, or offers incentives for vanpools. Triangle Transit Authority Ridesharing Services TTA Rideshare Program provides economical alternative transportation options to commuters. The program offerings a vanpool and carpool matching service that is confidential and easy. Simply fill out TTA's rideshare match form (http://www.ridetta.org/formcvm.html). Once the form is submitted, TTA's community assistance specialists will let you know if anyone in the rideshare database has a similar route and work schedule. To learn more about TTA's rideshare services (http://www.ridetta.org/rshare.html) or call Brian Fahey, Community Assistance Specialist, at (919)485-7465 or bfahey@ridetta.org Frequently Asked Questions How much does it cost? A lot less than what you would pay to drive alone. Each passenger pays a monthly fare (http://www.ridetta.org/vanfares.html) to ride in the van. Fares are based on the number of average monthly miles and the costs of operation, maintenance, insurance and depreciation. See the fare sheet for monthly costs per van and per rider, based on 14 passengers. (The driver rides free.) There is also a one-time, refundable $150 security deposit per van. Some employers offer subsidies to employees who rideshare. Check with your organization to see if it will help pay your vanpool costs. TTA also offers a seat-subsidy program to encourage formation of new vanpools. We will subsidize up to eight seats for three months; six seats for the next three months; four seats for the next three months; and two seats for the final three months of a vanpool's first year in operation. After that, the passengers must absorb the cost of any empty seats. Who owns the vans? Triangle Transit Authority owns the vans and leases them to the drivers. What are the vans like? TTA purchases 15-passenger vans with air-conditioning, AM/FM radio, and automatic transmission. In most cases, vans are replaced after they have traveled 80,000 miles. Who takes care of maintenance? TTA provides free preventive maintenance and repair work as well as a loaner van when yours is in the shop. Who drives? The driver is a commuter like you who has committed to taking fourteen other people to and from work each day. The driver may drive every day or share the driving with a back-up driver. Drivers must be at least 21 years old with a current North Carolina driver's license, and have a clean driving record and good credit history. What are the driver's responsibilities and benefits? Drivers and back-up drivers sign a lease agreement with TTA. Drivers must provide safe, off-the-street parking for vans. They collect passenger fares and pay TTA with one check. They must prepare and submit simple monthly reports on ridership and miles driven. TTA issues a credit card to drivers to pay for gas, and drivers submit their receipts on a monthly basis. Because of the responsibilities they shoulder, drivers ride free in vanpools and are allotted 100 miles per month of personal use of the van. Each van has AAA service. The primary driver of the van may use the AAA service on all their personal vehicles as long as the vanpool is operating. How are fares collected? Riders pay their monthly fee to the vanpool's driver, who in turn sends a check to TTA. The driver sets policy about whether he or she would like cash or checks from the passengers. What about insurance? TTA pays for the van's insurance, including collision and liability. If the van's driver is responsible for an accident that causes damage to the van, he or she is liable for just $250. All TTA vans have AAA coverage. Upon the start of a vanpool, the primary driver will receive a AAA membership card. AAA provides 24-hour roadside assistance (jumps, locksmith service, towing, etc.) The van's primary driver may use the AAA service on all of his/her personal vehicles as long as the vanpool is operating. What is my commitment to the van? In most cases, the driver and riders make a month-to-month commitment. You may leave the vanpool at any time after giving a month's notice. Does the van provide door-to-door service? Vanpool riders and drivers may set their own policy about pick-up and drop-off locations, but because fares are calculated on miles traveled we encourage you to choose a central meeting place. Often, churches and shopping centers will allow their parking lots to be used by vanpool riders. Be sure to check first. There are also a number of park-and-ride lots throughout the Triangle that you are free to use as a vanpool meeting place. What happens if I am sick or go on vacation? As long as TTA receives the total amount due from each van, vanpools are allowed to determine their own rules on sick- or vacation-time. Most often, however, riders are responsible for their fares whether or not they choose to ride the van every day. What if the driver is sick or on vacation? Each van has a back-up driver in case the primary driver cannot drive the van. What if I have an emergency during the day and need to go home? Some companies offer a guaranteed ride home program for employees who vanpool or carpool. Ask you employer if they offer this service. You could also work out an arrangement with a coworker who drives each day. How do we get more passengers on our van? TTA will help you recruit passengers and you are encouraged to look for potential riders at your workplace.

Triangle Commute Solution: Vanpool

Vanpooling is economical and easy!
A vanpool is made up of eight to fourteen commuters who live and work near one another and share similar working hours. Employers who participate in SmartCommute@RTP work with Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) to provide vanpool as a commute alternative to employees. Vanpool is especially convenient for commuters living in areas where transit service is not available. Some employers and transit authorities offer a Guaranteed Ride Home program for vanpools, making it even more appealing as a commute alternative.

To be considered for a TTA vanpool, one leg of the trip must begin or end in Wake, Durham, or Orange counties. TTA provides the van, pays for the gas, and arranges, oversees and pays for all maintenance. Riders simply pay a low monthly fare (http://www.ridetta.org/vanfares.html) based on round-trip mileage and drivers ride for free. TTA currently maintains 49 vanpools (http://www.ridetta.org/vanrtsch.html) with additional routes under development (http://www.ridetta.org/vanrtbf.html). The driver of the vanpool rides for free. Vanpool riders usually establish a convenient central meeting place, such as a park and ride lot for pick-ups drop-offs. All TTA vans have AAA coverage, which includes 24-hr roadside assistance.

Rewards of Vanpooling

Financial savings
Stress reduction
A more productive commute
More control over your work schedule
Vehicle maintenance reduced
Premium Parking spaces at some organizations
Possible lower insurance premiums (check with your insurance agent)
Reduced traffic congestion
Improved air quality now and for future generations
Reduced need for parking

Guaranteed Ride Home

Triangle Guaranteed Ride Home Programs

Getting Started

Employer Ridematching Services
Your transportation coordinator or human resources department may be able to provide information on existing vanpools at your company, or they may provide you with the names of co-workers who live near you so you can start a new vanpool. Some employers offer preferred parking, a guaranteed ride home program, and other incentives for vanpools. Ask your employer if they have a transportation coordinator, ridematching service, or offers incentives for vanpools.

Triangle Transit Authority Ridesharing Services
TTA Rideshare Program provides economical alternative transportation options to commuters. The program offerings a vanpool and carpool matching service that is confidential and easy. Simply fill out TTA's rideshare match form (http://www.ridetta.org/formcvm.html). Once the form is submitted, TTA's community assistance specialists will let you know if anyone in the rideshare database has a similar route and work schedule. To learn more about TTA's rideshare services (http://www.ridetta.org/rshare.html) or call Brian Fahey, Community Assistance Specialist, at (919)485-7465 or bfahey@ridetta.org

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost?
A lot less than what you would pay to drive alone. Each passenger pays a monthly fare (http://www.ridetta.org/vanfares.html) to ride in the van. Fares are based on the number of average monthly miles and the costs of operation, maintenance, insurance and depreciation. See the fare sheet for monthly costs per van and per rider, based on 14 passengers. (The driver rides free.) There is also a one-time, refundable $150 security deposit per van. Some employers offer subsidies to employees who rideshare. Check with your organization to see if it will help pay your vanpool costs. TTA also offers a seat-subsidy program to encourage formation of new vanpools. We will subsidize up to eight seats for three months; six seats for the next three months; four seats for the next three months; and two seats for the final three months of a vanpool's first year in operation. After that, the passengers must absorb the cost of any empty seats.

Who owns the vans?
Triangle Transit Authority owns the vans and leases them to the drivers.

What are the vans like?
TTA purchases 15-passenger vans with air-conditioning, AM/FM radio, and automatic transmission. In most cases, vans are replaced after they have traveled 80,000 miles.

Who takes care of maintenance?
TTA provides free preventive maintenance and repair work as well as a loaner van when yours is in the shop.

Who drives?
The driver is a commuter like you who has committed to taking fourteen other people to and from work each day. The driver may drive every day or share the driving with a back-up driver. Drivers must be at least 21 years old with a current North Carolina driver's license, and have a clean driving record and good credit history.

What are the driver's responsibilities and benefits?
Drivers and back-up drivers sign a lease agreement with TTA. Drivers must provide safe, off-the-street parking for vans. They collect passenger fares and pay TTA with one check. They must prepare and submit simple monthly reports on ridership and miles driven. TTA issues a credit card to drivers to pay for gas, and drivers submit their receipts on a monthly basis. Because of the responsibilities they shoulder, drivers ride free in vanpools and are allotted 100 miles per month of personal use of the van. Each van has AAA service. The primary driver of the van may use the AAA service on all their personal vehicles as long as the vanpool is operating.

How are fares collected?
Riders pay their monthly fee to the vanpool's driver, who in turn sends a check to TTA. The driver sets policy about whether he or she would like cash or checks from the passengers.

What about insurance?
TTA pays for the van's insurance, including collision and liability. If the van's driver is responsible for an accident that causes damage to the van, he or she is liable for just $250. All TTA vans have AAA coverage. Upon the start of a vanpool, the primary driver will receive a AAA membership card. AAA provides 24-hour roadside assistance (jumps, locksmith service, towing, etc.) The van's primary driver may use the AAA service on all of his/her personal vehicles as long as the vanpool is operating.

What is my commitment to the van?
In most cases, the driver and riders make a month-to-month commitment. You may leave the vanpool at any time after giving a month's notice.

Does the van provide door-to-door service?
Vanpool riders and drivers may set their own policy about pick-up and drop-off locations, but because fares are calculated on miles traveled we encourage you to choose a central meeting place. Often, churches and shopping centers will allow their parking lots to be used by vanpool riders. Be sure to check first. There are also a number of park-and-ride lots throughout the Triangle that you are free to use as a vanpool meeting place.

What happens if I am sick or go on vacation?
As long as TTA receives the total amount due from each van, vanpools are allowed to determine their own rules on sick- or vacation-time. Most often, however, riders are responsible for their fares whether or not they choose to ride the van every day.

What if the driver is sick or on vacation?
Each van has a back-up driver in case the primary driver cannot drive the van.

What if I have an emergency during the day and need to go home?
Some companies offer a guaranteed ride home program for employees who vanpool or carpool. Ask you employer if they offer this service. You could also work out an arrangement with a coworker who drives each day.

How do we get more passengers on our van?
TTA will help you recruit passengers and you are encouraged to look for potential riders at your workplace.