NORFOLK, Va. – If your New Year’s resolution includes saving money or making your commute more enjoyable, “Vanuary” is an option for you.
January is the perfect time to rethink your commute, and with vanpooling from goCommute, you can take some of the stress out of driving alone to and from work.
goCommute’s vanpool program partners with Commute with Enterprise to lease late-model vans or SUVs to registered groups of seven to 15 people. The Vanpool Assistance Program helps cover the costs of insurance, fuel, tolls and maintenance, with passengers splitting the remaining expenses.
Under the ConnectingVA Vanpool Program, new vanpool participants can commute to and from work for just $99 per month for the first four months, and then $125 for the following two months. To qualify, new vanpools must have at least five riders in a seven-passenger vehicle or eight riders in a 12-passenger van.
After the introductory period, participating vanpools will receive a $500 monthly stipend from goCommute per vanpool. Leases require only a 30-day cancellation notice, so there is no long-term commitment. If vanpool members leave, the Van Save program will help cover the additional costs.
Active-duty Navy, Marine, and civil service members are also eligible for extra benefits through Transit Benefit Programs, which pays up to $325 per month for vanpool and public transport services, including bus, light rail, and ferry rides provided by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT).
Commuters can join existing vanpools or start their own at gocommute.org/vanpool.
Vanpooling has many benefits, including:
- Saving on commuting costs
- Prolonging the life of your vehicle
- Reducing traffic congestion
- Saving time by using HOV lanes
- Decreasing commuting stress.
Another advantage of vanpooling is the Ride Home Rewards Program. When unexpected situations arise, such as a family emergency, unscheduled overtime, or a child falling ill at school, goCommute will coordinate a ride home at no added cost to the participant.
Participants can also earn rewards for vanpooling. By using the ConnectingVA website or app, they can log trips to earn points for discounts, coupons, a Ride Home Reward, and monthly raffles. You can find your match and receive rewards from local and national sponsors by sharing a ride, using transit, teleworking, walking, or biking to and from any occasion.
goCommute, operated by HRT, is funded through the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO). Its mission is to assist in reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions in southeastern Virginia by decreasing the number of single-occupancy vehicles commuting to work through ridesharing.
To learn more, please visit www.gocommute.org.
About HRT
HRT’s mission is to connect Hampton Roads with transportation solutions that are reliable, safe, efficient and sustainable. For more information on transit services, visit gohrt.com.
Media contact:
Thomas Becher, APR
Manager, Communications
January 7, 2025
Cell: (757) 354-0564
(757) 222-6010