Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 26, 2003

Metro looking to administer Virginia’s Vanpool Incentive Program

Metro is looking to expand its role as the regional mobility manger to include vanpooling out of Virginia by working collaboratively with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transport (VDRPT) to provide subsidies to vanpool operators. Metro hopes that the program will to encourage larger numbers of automobile drivers to get out of their cars and into vanpools. The Virginia vanpool subsidy incentive program is designed to reduce the cost of commuting via vanpool to entice riders to hop on board instead of sitting behind the wheel of their private automobile. On July 17, Metro’s Board will consider whether it wants Metro CEO Richard White to be able to enter into a contractual agreement with VDOT and regional transportation planning organizations to move forward to implement the program. The Board endorsed the program concept in 1998. Vanpools usually accommodate anywhere between seven and 15 riders per van and are paid for either by companies who are interested in getting their workforce to the office or by private operators who lease and operate the vans. In Northern Virginia, there are approximately 600 vanpools in operation. VDOT and DRPT recieve funds from a federal highway fund to encourage vanpooling as part of a Transportation Emission Reduction Measure (TERM). They are interested in having Metro administer the subsidy program, which should provide $200 to $325 per month in incentives to vanpool operators, who in turn pass along that savings to riders, making it a more affordable commuting choice. Metro staff would compile data from participants, and feed that information back to Virginia and the federal government. Examples of other TERM commitments include transit center developments, park and ride lot development and expansion, and bicycle programs. Currently nearly 50 transit properties nationwide are involved in vanpool incentive programs. The vanpool program goals include providing operating subsidy to vanpools to increase and maintain vanpool usage and encourage upgrading of the vans; requiring the collection and submission of data needed to qualify for federal funds; and increase federal funds to the regional transit service. Metro officials are looking to administer the program on VDOT’s behalf and to enter into contractual agreements with local ridesharing agencies, vanpool leasing companies, and individual vanpool operators for data collection and submission purposes while being reimbursed for all program costs. VDOT would fund the program for the two years through regional mitigation and air quality fund accounts and develop and market it to existing and new vanpools in Northern Virginia. The Rappahannock Area Development Corporation (RADCO) and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) would administer the program in the Fredericksburg and Prince William County areas. After the first two years, 80 percent of the ongoing program costs would be provided by the Federal Transportation Administration. Any dollars earned by the program beyond those required to fund it will be divided among PTRC, RADCO, and Metro.

News release issued on June 26, 2003.