Vanpool Policies & Information
These policies are subject to modification without prior notice.
Vanpool Basics
A Vanpool is formed when a group of commuters decide to share a ride to work. They meet at a central location at an agreed upon time and commute to and from work. The vehicle they drive is leased from C-TRAN and the monthly fare they pay covers all the fuel, maintenance, insurance, and other things needed to make it work. Some of the commuters volunteer to be the drivers and go through training at C-TRAN.
Each vanpool group must register and get approval of their trip with C-TRAN. This means C-TRAN will know when trips happen, where it will start and stop, and by what path the van is supposed to travel. Each van is equipped with a GPS device that monitors for fraud and theft. This reduces program costs like insurance and saves everyone money.
By sharing the cost of commuting, vanpool users save themselves considerable amounts of money. When you compare the cost for each vanpool rider to commute alone versus the shared cost of vanpool, you can see the benefits. Vanpool rates cover both fixed costs such as insurance and variable costs like maintenance that increase with the distance traveled. Vanpool rates are calculated by adding the fixed and variable costs and then dividing that among the vanpool group.
C-TRAN has two kinds of vehicles for lease, 7 passenger minivans and 12 passenger full size vans. Vans are serviced on 5000 mile intervals. C-TRAN staff coordinates with the drivers to bring in the vans for maintenance. Upon completion of the maintenance, the spare van is exchanged again for the original van. Maintenance is handled by a contract with a local vendor which is currently Ron's Automotive.
C-TRAN does not require the signing of any long term contracts. We operate on a month to month basis. We accomplish that by making the fare for any particular month due on the 1st working day of each month. We ask that you simply notify us by the 15th of the month that you wish to terminate your lease at the end of that given month.
C-TRAN's vanpool program operates on a non-profit philosophy. As the public Transportation provider for Clark County, WA, our motivation is the promotion of the public benefits of reduced congestion and pollution. Yet, we strive to operate in a manner that is financially sustaining in the long term.
Vanpool Benefits
Vanpool is a mode of transit that benefits everyone. The driver's major benefits include, but are not limited to:
- The "free ride" or at least a very affordable ride;
- A safe, relaxed, reliable commute;
- Less wear and tear on personal car;
- Potentially lower insurance rates on personal vehicle;
- Maybe unnecessary to own extra commuter car; and
- Personal satisfaction for easing traffic congestion and air pollution.
The passenger's major benefits include, but are not limited to:
- A very affordable ride;
- A safe, relaxed, reliable commute;
- Less wear and tear on personal car;
- Potentially lower insurance rates on personal vehicle;
- Maybe unnecessary to own extra commuter car; and
- Personal satisfaction for easing traffic congestion and air pollution.
The community will also benefit from the vanpool program in the following ways:
- Reduced traffic congestion;
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions;
- Lower environmental impact;
- The money saved on commuting by Vanpools will mostly be spent locally; and
- Lower accident rates could lower insurance premiums in the area.
Vanpool Goals And Objectives
- To recover at least 100% of expenses (excluding capital) through program revenue;
- To establish a market where the number of idle vans does not exceed demand by more than 20 and where demand does not exceed the number of vans by more than 20 vanpool groups signed up on a waiting list; and
- To establish procedures that allows for transparency and equity in how vans are operated and fare revenue collected.
How Are Vanpool Fares Calculated?