Home » Enterprise Rideshare and Pennsylvania DOT Partner on New Vanpool Approach

Enterprise Rideshare and Pennsylvania DOT Partner on New Vanpool Approach

fleetnewsdaily | January 16, 2018

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is partnering with Enterprise Rideshare – part of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car neighborhood network – to launch a new statewide public-transit program, the Pennsylvania Vanpool Incentive Program (PVIP).

Enterprise Rideshare includes vRide, which was acquired in 2016, and based on annual passenger miles, would rank as the fourth largest U.S. public transit agency today. In fact, Enterprise moderated a panel discussion about “The Changing World of Transit Benefits” at the 2017 Association for Commuter Transportation’s (ACT) Public Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. The session explored commuter benefit programs and common-sense efforts to further expand transit options at the grassroots level.

Enterprise Rideshare attempts to deliver a level of fleet flexibility and local service unmatched in the vanpool industry. “Vanpooling programs like PVIP have proven to be affordable and convenient, while also reducing both traffic congestion and carbon emissions immediately,” said Mike Mangan, Vice President of Enterprise Rideshare. “Vanpooling also can be a great alternative for commuters who lack access to traditional services like light rail, heavy rail or motor bus.”

The PVIP is designed to expand the availability of regional public transportation by subsidizing a portion of the cost of new Enterprise Rideshare-managed vanpools for local commuters who agree to share their ride to and from work in a vehicle large enough to accommodate seven to 15 people.

Like many state transportation departments – including those in Florida, Michigan, Nebraska and Vermont – PennDOT is expanding mobility options by launching an innovative statewide vanpooling program. The PVIP, available to all Pennsylvania commuters, is expected to create 100 new vanpools statewide and decrease commuting costs for riders by more than 50 percent.

Through Enterprise Rideshare, PVIP participants will be able to choose a qualifying vanpool vehicle from an industry-leading selection of makes and models, including crossovers, SUVs, minivans and large passenger vans. Enterprise Rideshare will provide 24-hour roadside assistance, liability insurance and scheduled maintenance. Vanpoolers also can choose to upgrade their vehicles with optional high-end features, such as satellite radio, in-vehicle Wi-Fi service, and power ports for individual seats.

“All Transportation is Local”

Genuine ridesharing programs represent one of the most strategic, cost-effective and sustainable transportation options available today for consumers and businesses alike. Every business day, Enterprise Rideshare takes more than 100,000 individual cars off U.S. roads, eliminating more than 2.4 billion commuter miles driven each year and eradicating the need for more than 100,000 parking spaces. Almost 2 billion pounds of carbon emissions are reduced by Enterprise Rideshare and vRide customers annually.

For an average commute of 100 miles per day, ridesharing can save individuals up to $10,000 per year by reducing the cost of tolls, gas, vehicle maintenance and depreciation. And vanpooling further reduces annual transportation expenses by using volunteer drivers – which is much more cost-efficient than hiring paid drivers (for example, through ride-hailing companies).

Category: General Update, Green, News