With fuel prices rising, West Virginia University employees who commute a long distance are seeing higher costs associated with just getting to work. But there is a better commuter option through vanpooling offered by VPSI, the nation’s largest vanpool provider.
Vanpooling is a voluntary ridesharing agreement that allows 7-15 people to share the cost of commuting to work in a comfortable passenger van instead of driving alone every day.
For a limited time, the service will be offered at a discount.
The WVU Department of Transportation and Parking has partnered with WVU Hospitals, MonGeneral Hospital, the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization, and VPSI to help WVU employees participate in this environmentally friendly program to reduce their commuting costs. By including WVU Hospitals and MonGeneral, WVU employees now have even more potential vanpooling opportunities to cover a variety of shift times.
The campus is holding two formation meetings open to all who are interested in the service. The focus of the first two vanpool programs will be on commuters who drive from the Fairmont/Clarksburg area and from the Uniontown, Pa., area. The service will offer other departure points later on.
The forums will be held Wednesday, July 13 in the Mountainlair’s Greenbrier Room at 11:30 a.m. and at the Evansdale Towers Complex, Room G08 at 1:30 p.m.
VPSI’ s service makes vanpooling easy by providing:
• A variety of vehicle models and seating configurations
• Preferred and reserved campus parking locations
• Reduced parking permit costs
• A comprehensive maintenance and repair program with 24-hour roadside assistance
• A Guaranteed Ride Home program
• Comprehensive auto insurance coverage with no deductible
• Access to a back-up/loaner van
• 30-day user agreement with no long-term commitment
• Optional fuel card program
• Online account access and online bill payment
• Local customer support and program administration
“Our customers are extremely satisfied with their vanpooling experience – many of our groups have been vanpooling for 15 years or more,” said Rico Fleshman, VPSI Area Manager. “And the cost savings is just one of the many benefits they enjoy.”
Some of the benefits vanpooling offers are that riders can relax, read, work or socialize during their commute. Everyone enjoys reduced wear and tear on their personal car and some have been able to request a reduction in their personal auto insurance rates. Because the group shares the cost of the vehicle, fuel and tolls, they all save. And now, through a federal grant, the first several months of the vanpool will be discounted for participants.
For vanpooling information and applications, please visit www.vanride.com
For questions about the meetings or other locations to start a vanpool service, e-mail Danielle at commuterchoices@gmail.com or call at (304) 413-0297.
-WVU-
CONTACT: Nick Halfhill, Marketing Coordinator, WVU Transportation and Parking
(304) 293-5502, Nicholas.Halfhill@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.