Connect Transit is offering a vanpooling program to attract workers to the area while reducing the expenses for commuters.
The “Commute with Connect” program is a coordinated shared-ride vanpool program available to anyone who lives outside of the Bloomington-Normal (B-N) area but wishes to access jobs in the B-N area. The program coordinates participants who indicate their interest through an easy-to-use online portal. The program then matches riders who have similar work shifts in similar areas, and who are interested in riding together. Participants are not required to work at the same location – only similar shifts as other people in the vanpool group.
Once four or more people are matched, a vanpool coordinator will contact the group to begin working out the details. Commute with Enterprise then provides a Connect Transit sponsored vehicle for the vanpool group to get to work and back home again. Each vanpool program is customized to the specific needs of its four or more vanpoolers.
“Our ‘Commute with Connect’ vanpool program is an easy way for people to save money and get to work in Bloomington-Normal. The program allows Connect Transit to support the employment needs of local businesses in our community. It’s a real win-win-win for workers, employers and Connect Transit,” said David Braun, general manager, Connect Transit.
The vanpool program will be partially subsidized by Connect Transit using state and federal grant funds. The remaining cost is split among participants, with each vanpool rider paying a set fee per month. Enterprise will provide coordination services and technology, vehicles, liability insurance, scheduled vehicle maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance, as well as best practices for cleaning and complete clean starter kits for new commuters.
Participants can choose a qualifying vanpool vehicle from Enterprise’s selection of makes and models that includes crossovers, SUVs, minivans and large passenger vans. Vanpoolers may choose to upgrade their vehicles with optional high-end features, such as satellite radio and in-vehicle Wi-Fi service.
