Regional Vanpool Program

The "It's a Good Day to Vanpool" project was implemented by Trans Vironmental Solutions (TVS) on behalf of the MSRC. The project consisted of performing vanpool awareness outreach to employers located within the South Coast AQMD, and financial assistance for both new vanpool formation and new riders placed into existing vanpools. New "startup" vanpools were eligible for financial incentives totaling $1,800. This startup incentive helped lower the monthly vanpool lease cost, passed along to each participant in the form of lower per trip costs. The $1,800 incentive was paid on a graduated basis: months one through three earned a $300 per month incentive; months four through six $200 per month, and months seven through nine $100 per month. The objective was to reduce the financial incentive as the vanpool became more estabilished and stable. TVS entered into agreements with three (3) vanpool service providers; VPSI, Enterprise, and Midway to market the availability of the Program. 100% of MSRC incentive funding was passed through these providers directly to the vanpool participants - no funds were retained by the vanpool service providers. Individuals who agreed to join an existing vanpool were eligible to receive up to $300 in financial assistance. The $300 new rider incentive was paid in three (3) $100 monthly rebates. TVS also conducted a survey of the vanpool program participants; the results were included as an attachment to the Final Report. 93% of the particpants rated the vanpool program as either "very good" or "Excellent". The Program kicked off in September 2003 with a series of press releases and a direct mail campaign to targeted businesses. Presentations were made at several employer networking events, roundtables, and meetings.