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News from King County Department of Transportation Metro signing up new vanpoolers in drovesBus ridership isn’t the only transportation option setting records in King County these days. Metro Transit is also seeing a big jump in vanpool and vanshare participation. “King County now sponsors more than 1,050 vanpools – approximately 100 more than last year at this time,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “We make it convenient to personally save money, reduce congestion, and cut down on commuting stress. More and more people are finding it’s a great way to start and end their work day.” The transportation community may be observing “Dump the Pump” day tomorrow on June 19, but thousands of local commuters celebrate the occasion every time they board a vanpool for their entire commute or a vanshare for just one link in their trip. Last month, 23 new vanpools were formed and Metro is projecting another 30 new starts for the month of June. As of June 1, Metro had 889 vanpools and 169 vanshares in operation for a total of 1,058 vans on the road. It’s an 11 percent increase over the same time last year. New participants tell Metro that the high price of gasoline is driving them to seek out different commute options, and sometimes the bus and train don’t match their needs. By tapping into Metro’s Vanpool program, they enjoy both cost-savings and a more relaxing commute. “Thanks so much for your help in setting up our vanpool,” one new vanpool driver wrote Metro recently. “We are only three days into it and we are loving it. I come to work so relaxed and smiling each morning. You should feel good about the fact that you have made eight people's lives so much better!” Another vanpooler found she was saving money on more than gas. “I just talked with my auto insurance company and I will be saving $54 a year by being in the vanpool and reducing my annual mileage on my car! Woo hoo!!” Vanpooling is also good for the environment. It’s been estimated that Metro’s vanpool program removes roughly 5,000 cars from the road daily, and eliminates 16,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the air annually. Metro operates the largest and oldest public vanpool program in the nation. It is designed to accommodate commuters traveling to common destinations, with Metro providing the vehicle and everything else for successful ridesharing, including: rider support services; maintenance; insurance; fuel; and tires. Vanpool fares are based on a group's round-trip mileage and the number of riders in the van. Vanpool groups can vary from five to 15 people. The members – usually co-workers or people who work in the same vicinity – volunteer to drive and fuel the vans, keep them clean, and schedule maintenance and repair work. Metro’s VanShare program helps bridge the gap between home or work and other modes of public transportation. Vans are typically parked at a transportation hub (rail station, park-and-ride lot, or ferry dock) and used to transport commuters between the hub to their worksites or homes. Costs are split among the vansharers. Getting started is as easy as registering your interest in vanpooling or vansharing at RideshareOnline. Statewide, more than 15,000 people – either currently in a van group or looking for a vanpool or carpool – are registered at this site. You can also call toll-free at (800) 427-8249.
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