Save money
A vanpool is a group of five to 15 people who share their commute. The vanpool travels from home (or a prearranged meeting place) to work, school, or other destinations. Vanpooling with a MetroVanpool can cost a quarter of what you would pay to drive alone! MetroVanpool helps make vanpooling even more economical with an incentive program that pays for 50% of the basic monthly van lease cost, not including fuel. Passengers split the remaining costs.

Monthly costs per rider, including fuel, are $60 to $95 for a 30-mile roundtrip, compared to $266 a month to drive alone. By reducing the cost of maintenance on their own vehicles and splitting the high cost of gasoline with other riders, vanpoolers can save hundreds of dollars each year.

Reduce your stress
The average commuter spends eight hours each week behind the wheel of a car. That is the equivalent of working one extra day per week. According to surveys, most workers believe their commute is the most stressful part of their workday. In contrast, vanpool riders can relax, read the newspaper, work on their laptop, or just take a nap. There are fewer worries about traffic, vehicle reliability or getting to work on time. As a member of a vanpool you will be doing your part to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality while saving money. -

Emergency Ride Home
If a family emergency occurs before it is time for your vanpool to return home, then your ride is only a phone call away. MetroVanpool provides vanpool participants a free emergency ride home in a cab.

Drivers may commute for FREE!
Do you have a good driving record? Are you willing to organize a group of co-workers and commuters? Would you go to a drivers' training? If your answer is "Yes", then you could be a vanpool driver. Metro vanpool drivers often travel for free in exchange for driving and completing monthly reports.

Use these simple steps to start a vanpool. Vanpools may be started by groups of commuters or their employers.

1. Find people who travel from near your home to your worksite or nearby worksites. Talk with co-workers, contact your employer's transportation coordinator or Human Resources department, and register your commute on www.CarpoolMatchNW.org.

2. Check to see if your vanpool route qualifies for a Metro VanPool incentive. To qualify the vanpool must:
- travel to a destination in the Portland metropolitan area or Southwest Washington,
- originate at least ten miles from the destination or travel through a congested corridor,
- use one of Metro VanPool's van providers,
- maintain a minimum of five participants, including the driver, three or more days a week.

3. Research van options. Metro VanPool has lease agreements with the two area vanpool providers listed below. Each provider offers varying lease costs based on commute distance and van size. Employers and vanpool groups should research each provider's costs and benefits, and discuss costs with potential riders. You can select the provider option that best meets the needs of your vanpool group.

4. Register your vanpool with Metro VanPool. If you have a group or even a partial group ready to vanpool, contact Metro to register your vanpool. Metro will provide a monthly incentive to qualified vanpool groups. Metro pays the provider directly, remaining costs are split between vanpool riders. Contact Metro at rto@metro.dst.or.us. or call 503-813-7566.

VANPOOL VENDORS
Each vendor offers specific kinds of vans, varying costs for the different commute distances, and, sometimes, additional benefits. Vanpool groups should do their own research into each vendor's costs and benefits.