Vanpool

About

Vanpooling is a shared commute mode that utilizes a large model van to transport between 7-15 passengers. The large number of passengers using a single vehicle keeps the participation cost low, making vanpooling a more affordable than driving alone. It is great option for employees living 20 or more miles from Grounds, especially for communities where there is no transit connection to UVA. 

Program Details

P&T is partnered with Commute with Enterprise to provide comprehensive vanpooling services for UVA affiliates. Enterprise offers the vehicle used for the vanpool, a fuel card, insurance, and maintenance. P&T provides the vanpool with a parking permit for multiple locations on Grounds. Participants pay P&T a fixed monthly rate to ride in the vanpool.     

Each vanpool operates semi-autonomously with all participants taking responsibility in supporting the vanpool’s operation. One participant is the coordinator, who holds the vehicle lease, oversees the vanpool’s logistics, and serves as the point of contact for UVA and Enterprise. Some number of participants are drivers, often dividing up the daily driving responsibilities throughout the week. All participants are expected to be courteous and respectful and to communicate effectively to ensure a smooth operation.

Eligibility

Any UVA faculty, staff, or student can join a P&T-sponsored vanpool.

Rider Type & Payment

A vanpool has two types of riders: a full-time rider and an ad hoc rider. A full-time rider pays a monthly fee to ride and is guaranteed a seat in the van regardless of the number of days they ride per week. An ad hoc rider pays by the day and can only ride if a seat is available.

For employees that are eligible, the vanpool fee is collected via payroll deduction. For students and other employees, they must contact P&T’s main office to make payment.

Incentives

There are several incentives available to participants that make vanpooling an attractive option:

• Drivers earn $10 per day they drive the vanpool.
• Coordinators earn $40 per month they lead the vanpool.
• Participants can earn $1 per day when they log their vanpool commute if they join Wahoo Commute.
• Full-time riders that are enrolled in automatic payroll deduction are deducted pretax.

Guaranteed Ride Home

Employees eligible to participate in Wahoo Commute have access to the Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program. It provides an employee up to four free rides home per year to use in case of emergency and they can’t ride the vanpool to get home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I try riding in the vanpool before joining?     
Yes, individuals interested in joining but want to experience the vanpool before committing can ride a few times for free.

How do I get parking for the occasions when I can’t ride the vanpool and have to drive myself?    
Employees can purchase daily parking for the days they have to drive themselves. Visit Faculty and Staff or Health System Team parking depending on your affiliation.

Active Vanpools

Questions?

Interested in joining a vanpool, starting a new one, or have some questions? 
Email [email protected].