Vanpool Policies & Information
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 and saves everyone money.
By sharing the cost of commuting, vanpool users save themselves a considerable amount of money. When you compare the cost for each vanpool rider to commute alone versus the shared cost of vanpool, you can see the benefit. Vanpool rates cover both fixed costs such as insurance, as well as variable costs like maintenance that increases with the distance traveled. Vanpool rates are calculated by adding the fixed and variable costs and then dividing that between the users of the van.
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 coordinate with vanpool drivers to get the van in for maintenance and by providing a spare van. When maintenance is complete, C-TRAN staff and the vanpool driver arrange for another van exchange. Maintenance is currently handled by Ron's Automotive.
C-TRAN does not require the signing of any long term vanpool contract. anpools operate on a month-to-month basis. Monthly fares are paid in advance and begin on the 1st working day of each month. Vanpool users are asked to notify C-TRAN by the 15th of the month if they plan to terminate their lease at the end of that month.
Vanpool Benefits
Vanpool is a mode of transit that benefits everyone. The driver's major benefits include, but are not limited to:
- A very affordable ride and sometimes "free ride" depending on how the vanpool is set up;
- A safe, relaxed, reliable commute;
- Less wear and tear on a personally owned vehicle;
- Potentially lower insurance rates on personally owned vehicles; 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 a personally vehicle;
- Potentially lower insurance rates on personally owned vehicles; 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 sharing your ride may be spent locally; and
- Lower accident rates could potentially 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 allow for transparency and equity in how vans are operated and fares are collected.
These policies are subject to change without prior notice.
How Are Vanpool Fares Calculated?