MTC's vanpool subsidy rises to $600

For drivers frustrated with a non-productive, long and grueling commute, MTC's Bay Area Vanpool Program is an alternative that provides direct subsidies to both new and existing vanpools. 

MTC this year increased the monthly subsidy for participating vanpools to $600 a month from the previous $500. The Commission hopes the increased subsidy will grow the fleet.

The Bay Area Vanpool Program connects employees who live near each other and provides them with a recent-model van or SUV. Riders commute together, saving money, freeing up time to relax or catch up on work and reducing traffic congestion and emissions. 

A financial commitment from MTC allows qualifying vanpools that rent their vehicles through Commute with Enterprise, a service of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, to reduce the cost of their van rates by $600 a month. Vanpools with 11- to 15-passengers also receive free bridge tolls. 

Vanpools must start or end in one of the nine eligible Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.

If a vanpool qualifies for the MTC program, it may also be eligible for these partner subsidies:

• Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) – Qualified vanpools commuting within Santa Clara County can receive an additional $400 per month for the first year.
• Solano County Transportation Authority –  Qualified vanpools traveling to, from or through Solano County can receive an additional $200 monthly subsidy for two years.  
• Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) – Qualified vanpools traveling to or from Marin County can receive an additional $150 monthly subsidy for two years, totaling up to $3,600.
• 511 Contra Costa – eligible vanpools can receive up to $200 monthly subsidy per vehicle (for up to one year) from 511 Contra Costa. This benefit can be applied in addition to the $600 monthly subsidy provided by MTC. 
• Napa Valley Transit Authority (NVTA) – Qualified vanpools traveling to or from Napa County can receive an additional $250 per month. 

Bay Area employers with active vanpools and 50 or more employees can easily comply with the requirements of the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program under Option 1 or Option 2. Visit 511.org/CommuterBenefitsProgram for full details.

A vanpool typically consists of six to 15 people commuting to and from home to work; often with two or three participants sharing the driving. Almost 500 commute vanpools currently operate in the nine-county Bay Area, serving an average of 2,640 riders each day.  

Commuters who do not already have a group with which to vanpool can learn how to join a vanpool or start a new one by visiting 511.org/vanpool.  Vanpools can apply for the Bay Area Vanpool Program subsidies on the Enterprise site at www.commutewithenterprise.com/en/partners/mtc.html.