Vanpool ResearchPart 2

Presentation to

Vanpool Bootcamp

November 4, 2011

LDA Consulting

COG Vanpool SurveyHighlights

Survey Overview

Purpose of survey: Define vanpool operation patterns

Examine characteristics of van ownership and use

Identify van assistance received by drivers

Method Survey drivers of “registered” vanpools

Survey packet mailed to drivers – response options included fax, mail, internet

Telephone follow-up to non-respondents

Total sample 408 – 47% response rate

Van Ownership

The largest share of vans were owned by a leasing agency (45%), followed by the driver or a family member (21%).

Private party outside family

20%

Leasing agency34%

Driver or family member

20%Other14%

VPSI12%

n = 401

Van Insurance

61% said van owner is responsible for the paying insurance and 14% said the van driver was responsible. 18% said someone else paid the insurance.

Of those who knew the cost, 29% paid less than $2,000 and 49% paid between $2,000 and $2,599 per year.

13% 16%

49%

10% 12%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

<$1,500 $1,500-$1999 $2,000-$2,599

$2,600-$3,699

$3,700 +

n = 76

Average annual cost = $2,548But 74% of respondents did

not know insurance cost

Origin and Work Locations

76% of the vanpools originate in VA and 21% originate in MD.

43% of the vanpools were destined for DC. Virginia was the destination of 36% and Maryland was the destination of 14%.

76%

36%

21%14%

0%

43%

3%7%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Virginia Maryland District of Columbia DK

Origin state Work state

Top 3 Origin Counties

- Spotsylvania Co – 27%

- Prince William Co – 21%

- Stafford Co – 17%

n = 408

Vanpool Pick-up and Drop-off

Vanpool pick-up stops 64% make one stop at

a central meeting place

30% make two stops

6% make three +stops

VP formation = 28 min

Vanpool drop-off stops

29% said all passengers work at the same location

71% made 1+ drop-off stop before parking the van

Vanpool drop-off takes average of 12 minutes

Vanpool Travel Distance

Driver’s home to work n = 386, Line-haul n = 381)

34% travel 31 to 45 miles, 32% travel 46 to 60 miles, and 20% travel more than 60 miles one-way.

69% said the line-haul portion of the trip was 45 miles or less.

33% 36% 25% 6%

14% 34% 32% 20%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Line-haul distance

Driver's home towork

30 mi or less 31-45 mi 46-60 mi 61 or more mi

HOV Use by Origin State

72% of vanpools use HOV lane on trip to work, but use is unevenly divided. 84% of VA vanpools use HOV, compared with 35% of Maryland vanpools.

84%

16%

35%

65%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Virginia Maryland

Use HOV Do not use HOVVA n = 311

MDn = 82

VP Assistance Received at Work

44% of drivers said they received some type of assistance in forming their vanpool – 16% said asst was from employer

94% of drivers received one or more different commute services or benefits at work for vanpooling.

14%

26%

38%

41%

42%

66%

69%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

VP startup subsidy

Discounted or free parking

Parking close to building

Flextime

Reserved parking at work

GRH

Vanpool subsidy

n = 408Multiple response permitted

Top VP Operation Issues

Issue Ave Rate 4-5 Rating HOV lane congestion 3.4 55%

Finding new riders 3.2 43%

HOT lanes along route 2.9 47%

Finding back up driver 2.9 36%

Insurance cost too high 2.4 29%

HOV hours too short 2.4 29%

Priority parking at work 2.1 21%

Risk of rollover accident 2.2 15%

n = 330

VanpoolInnovations

PACE (Suburban Chicago) Metra Feeder – Provides van for monthly fee of $58 / rider. If half of

riders buy passes, vans can be parked overnight. Riders can use universal pass for both train and vanpool

Employer Shuttle program – employer leases vans for groups of employees to self-transport from station to worksites.

Van Link from Train to Worksite

King County Metro (Seattle) VanShare – vans parked overnight at stations. Employee drives riders to / from worksite. Riders can use van for personal errands during the day. The cost is $175 per van is $175 per van per month

Austin, TX – Flat $45 per month for riders within the service area, regardless of the distance traveled (riders outside the service area pay an additional charge)

Atlanta TMAs – Flat monthly rate depending on the daily round trip mileage and size of van (7 or 10 passenger)

Fare Tiers – 0 – 60 miles ($105, $75), 61 – 90 miles ($120, $90), 91+ miles ($130, $100)

UC - Riverside – Tiered fare rate model based on the total number of miles that vanpools travel annually – less than 12K miles ($88/mth), 12-20K ($98/mth), >20K ($117.50)

Flat Rate Vanpool Fares

New Jersey Transit

Vanpool Sponsorship Program$175 per month subsidies to newly formed or existing vanpool groups that obtain vehicles through approved vanpool operators on

a month-to-month arrangement. Vans that use routes with HOV lanes can obtain $300.

LA County Metro Vanpool Program

Fare incentive program for vanpools destined to Los Angeles County worksites. Vanpools can receive a $400 per month subsidy. Program funded through state and federal rideshare grants that reimburse Metro based on the number of vanpool riders and vanpool vehicle miles driven.

Ongoing Public Vanpool Incentives

Other Vanpool Financial Incentives

Set vanpool fares to match farebox recovery for transit

New rider payment to existing vanpoolers (‘finders’ fee)

Empty seat subsidies – temporarily cover lost riders

Free trial period

Participation in rider reward program (based on usage)

Bonus payment for maintaining ridership

Maintenance/retention bonus

On-street reserved parking (San Francisco) – Reserved, free on-street vanpool parking at ten DT locations. First-come-first-served, but VP may also park at time-limited spaces. VP must obtain and display permit.

Reserved parking at train station (San Diego) – Free reserved parking for VP at COASTER train stations. Advance parking reservations can be made online or by telephone during business hours. The designated spaces are located near station platforms for convenience.

Public Space Vanpool Parking

Missoula, Montana VP program accepts occasional riders if

space is available. The fare structure is designed to accommodate part-time use, with fees for full-time use and fees for 1, 2, or 3 rides per week. Commuters needing a ride a given day will be referred to a vanpool driver if space is available.

Easy Street, CT/MA/NY/RI Regular riders have the flexibility to design

their pick-up schedules and routes to work. Most pick-ups are at park-and-ride lots. Space permitting, vanpools may offer part-time seating.

Occasional VP Riders

Job Lift, Clallam County, Washington

Fixed-route vanpools access to jobs and training for low-wage workers in remote communities

Collaboration among transportation and social service agencies, with Job Access and Reverse Commute funds

Vans owned by regional agency, which provides driver training.

Some VPs serve traditional home to work markets on regular schedules. One VP travels different routes (some seasonal variation) to job sites and training sites seven days per week

Employers work with van operator to set work schedules that accommodate the riders getting their children to day care and home again.

Low-Income Job Access Vanpools