To provide access to jobs, the Florida Department of Transportation has partnered with VPSI to create the Rural Vanpool Program. This program helps commuters who live or work in designated counties cover the cost of vanpooling to work.

Since the program's start last year, the program has helped get seven more vanpools on the road across the state. That's in addition to the hundreds of vanpools already in operation across Florida! If you live or work in Flagler County, you could qualify for the 60% subsidy provided by this public-private partnership.

So what is vanpooling? Vanpooling is a lot like carpooling: a group of co-workers or neighbors coming together to share the ride to work. The big difference between the two is that a vanpool is a group of commuters (typically 6-12 people) that lease a vehicle to use specifically for the commute to work.

These vehicles range from 7-passenger minivans to 15-passenger vans, and can be leased through either the local transit agency or a private provider, like VPSI. There is a monthly cost to use the vehicle, but that lease amount includes the cost of maintenance and insurance. The vanpool group plans their own route and sets their own schedule. In fact, it's actually the vanpoolers themselves who drive the van and take it home every night!

Vanpooling can help you save major bucks if you're driving more than 25 miles each way to work. From gas savings to saving wear-and-tear on your personal vehicle, vanpooling can save you thousands of dollars a year. Think that vanpooling might be for you? Send us an email to get started!