Vanpool
Vanpooling is a shared commuting option in which a van transports between 4 and 15 passengers. By consolidating multiple commuters into a single vehicle, vanpooling significantly reduces individual travel costs and provides an affordable alternative to driving alone. It is especially beneficial for employees who live 20 miles or more from campus or who commute from areas without direct transit service to Virginia Tech.
Program Details
Sustainable Transportation has partnered with Commute with Enterprise to offer comprehensive vanpool services for Virginia Tech employees. Commute with Enterprise provides the vehicle, insurance, and maintenance, while Sustainable Transportation supplies the vanpool parking permit and a fuel card for use at Fleet Services.
The monthly vanpool cost is shared among all participants and deducted from their paychecks using pre‑tax dollars. Each vanpool operates semi‑autonomously, with participants collectively supporting day‑to‑day operations. Participants must provide at least 30 days’ notice if they plan to leave the vanpool.
Participant roles include:
Coordinator: Holds the vehicle lease, manages logistics, and serves as the primary point of contact for Virginia Tech and Commute with Enterprise.
Drivers: One or more participants share daily driving responsibilities.
All participants: Expected to maintain clear communication and be courteous and respectful to ensure a smooth and reliable vanpool experience.
To be eligible for vanpooling, individuals must be Virginia Tech employees and agree to have the monthly vanpool fare deducted from their paycheck.
The RIDE Solutions Guaranteed Ride Home Program provides registered members with a free ride home in the event of a personal emergency. This commuting “insurance policy” ensures you are never stranded at work when unexpected situations arise.
Registration is free and must be completed in advance.
Register for RIDE Solutions: https://ridesolutions.agilemile.com/
Learn more about the Guaranteed Ride Home Program on their website.
Adverse weather conditions are not eligible for the Guaranteed Ride Home Program. During inclement weather, the vanpool driver determines whether the vanpool will operate. Drivers and riders should establish a clear communication plan for weather‑related updates.
If the primary driver is unavailable, they must notify the alternate driver at least one hour before the morning commute.
If inclement weather develops after arrival on campus, the primary driver must provide participants with at least two hours’ notice before an early departure.
To get started, visit the Commute with Enterprise website. Interested individuals who do not yet have a vanpool group can join a database of potential riders and receive notifications when sufficient interest is reached to establish a new vanpool.