Commuters to save money, help air quality by forming new vanpools

Rideshare News

PHOENIX (September 1, 2009) – In an effort to further reduce the cost of commuting, decrease vehicle emissions, and help improve air quality, Valley Metro is lowering the cost of vanpooling this fall.

Vanpools are groups of commuters – most often colleagues from the same workplace – who share the commute and the driving of a Valley Metro van. Groups from six to 15 share the cost of gas and commute together instead of driving alone to work. They determine their own route and schedule. A group as small as six passengers can keep more than 4 pounds* of pollution out of the air every day that they don’t drive alone.

During the months of September and October, Valley Metro and their contractor VPSI, which manages the vans, will offer

to those who form a new vanpool for commuting. New vanpools pay for the first month and receive the second month free. The only cost during the second month is the shared price of gasoline.

“While saving time and money are important for many commuters, it’s the environmental savings that benefits all Valley residents the most,” says Gary Roberts, manager of vanpool services at Valley Metro. “A group of 15 vanpooling together equates to 140 trips each week that are not traveled by people driving alone. That keeps nearly 305 pounds* of pollution out of the air.”

In addition, those who vanpool report other unexpected benefits, including convenience, use of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, reduced wear and tear on their personal vehicles, and friendship with fellow vanpoolers.

”It’s just a wonderful camaraderie you build when riding together every day,” says Sha Nabors, the driver of a six-person vanpool for colleagues at CVS Caremark in Scottsdale. “We discuss all kinds of things on the way home, play music, or read. We’ve definitely built a very strong relationship with everyone who rides in the van.”

To form a new vanpool and receive one month free, call the Vanpool Coordinator at 602-262-7433..

*based on average roundtrip commute in Maricopa County of 31.6 miles, and 1 pound of pollution generated every 45.5 miles by the typical vehicle, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments

Valley Metro/RPTA provides eco-friendly public transit options to residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County, including a clean-fuel bus fleet, low-emissions light rail, online carpool matching and bus trip mapping, and bicycle and telework assistance. Funding is provided by local, state and federal revenues; and administered by a board of 15 governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit system. www.ValleyMetro.org