Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The Comet) and Commute with Enterprise have partnered on a vanpooling service to provide a convenient and efficient mobility to riders in Richland and Lexington Counties in South Carolina.
The Comet Vanpool, recently launched its first vehicles earlier this year, providing transportation to employees at ECM Support Services in Columbia, S.C.
Companies looking to enhance transportation options for their employees can also partner with The Comet to offer the program as an employee benefit. The Comet Vanpool is now available to all companies and organizations in the Columbia metropolitan area, supported by a monthly subsidy of $500 per vehicle to offset employee costs.
Columbia is located between two heavily used thoroughfares, Interstate 20 and Interstate 26. Data from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute shows that the average Columbia-area driver spends $951 every year in lost time and wasted fuel due to increasing levels of traffic congestion. The average local commuter now loses 38 hours annually to heavy traffic, contributing to stress and lost productivity.
"A lack of public transit service combined with traffic congestion can be a real barrier to employment, educational and cultural opportunities," said John Andoh, Executive Director at The Comet. "We're working hard to come up with innovative solutions, like our vanpool service which is being supported by Commute with Enterprise, to help ensure that communities throughout our region have access to these opportunities and to relieve the stress of commuting for people across the Central Midlands."
For an average commute of 100 miles per day, ridesharing can save employees up to $10,000 per year by reducing the cost of tolls, gas, vehicle maintenance and depreciation. It can also free up parking, allowing companies to use space more efficiently and avoid parking congestion.
"Enterprise is supporting The Comet as it brings positive change to the Columbia area," said Commute with Enterprise's Neil Semcheski. "Our mission is to provide commuters with a more convenient way to get to and from work, ensuring that everyone has access to transportation choices that can take them where they need to go safely and efficiently."
