Vanpool New Rider Rebate Program:  Give vanpooling a try and Traffic Solutions will give you a $100 rebate towards your vanpool subscription after your first 3 months of riding in the van! Visit here for more information about this new program.

Vanpool Quick Start Program: Traffic Solutions offers a countywide vanpool start-up subsidy program!  We'll help you get your van on the road by paying 50% of the vanpool's lease the first month and 25% of the lease the second month.  Call 963-SAVE for more information.

Yes, There is Such a Thing as a Free Ride:  Become a vanpool driver and your ride may be free! You can save thousands of dollars in annual commute costs. Or you can share the drive - many van drivers alternate their van driving days with other drivers on the van.

5 Steps to a New Vanpool:

Can't find a vanpool that meets your needs? Don't despair! You can start your own vanpool and Traffic Solutions can help! Here are the steps you'll need to follow to get your vanpool on the road:

1. Contact vanpool vehicle vendors for rate quotes: CalVans (866) 655-5444, VPSI Commuter Vanpools, (800) VAN-RIDE (826-7433), or Enterprise Vanpool, (800) VAN-4-WORK (826-4967). The vendors will need to know the distance of your commute, the vehicle size you're considering and what kind of amenities you'd like...do you want bench seats or captain-style reclining seats?

2. Estimate the monthly fares by adding fuel costs to your monthly rate quote for the vehicle and dividing by the number of paying passengers. (In most vanpools, the driver rides free, so don't count the driver as a paying passenger.)
   For example: Estimated Total Monthly Expenses:  $1,300 monthly 15 passenger van lease + $400 monthly gas expenses = $1,700 per month Monthly Passenger Fare:  $1,700/ 14 paying passengers = $122 per month

3. Get a group of at least 10 commuters together. Traffic Solutions can send you a free list of other commuters with a schedule like yours! Phone them up and see if they'd be interested in forming a vanpool with you.

4. Plan a meeting with your potential vanpool partners to determine the route and schedule. You may want to meet at a coffee shop during the weekend in your home town or during lunch hour near your work. Tip: When planning the route and schedule, keep it simple. In general, the fewer stops the better!

5. Determine who will perform various responsibilities. Each vanpool group needs a driver (the driver usually commutes free), at least one back up driver (preferably two), someone who will lease the vehicle, and someone who will act as treasurer. Often, one person has more than one role. For example, it is common for the primary driver to also lease the van and act as treasurer.