Vanpooling: The new way to get to work
Vanpooling is being called the new way to get to work -- and the Capital Region is one of the first areas in the state to give the program a go.
The idea is to gather seven to 15 of your coworkers who live near one another; the vanpooling program provides you with a van to get to work.
Coworkers can select one person to do the driving or the responsibility can trade back and forth. The cost is estimated to be anywhere between 5 to 10 cents per mile per passenger.
The program is being piloted by Capital District Transportation Authority, CDTC and the Downtown Albany BID. "It's important to explore transportation alternatives that would better suit everyone in the region," explains Margo Janack at CDTA.
Along with cost savings, vanpooling is said to be the most enviromental friendly option. A fleet of ten average-sized vans filled to only 80-percent capacity will reduce monthly emissions of CO2 by 61 tons.
This will be a two-year trial program in which each group participating will receive a $500 stipend to further make this a cheaper way to get to work.
To learn more about the Vanpooling program, log on to www.ipool2.org.
