Vanpools
Whether you're looking for a way to save money on your commute or just want to be greener and more sustainable, vanpooling may be the perfect solution!
It's like taking a mini vacation to work, every day. You'll get to enjoy the scenery on the way to your job, and you'll save money while you do it.
You can form your own vanpool with other commuters in your area who want to share the ride, so you won't have to drive alone anymore. You can get up to $300 in monthly tax-free transportation benefits!
List of current vanpool routes starting in Frederick County:
| Route Begins: | Route Ends: |
|---|---|
| Buckeystown Pike | Fort Belvoir, VA |
| Urbana Park & Ride (North) | Fort Belvoir, VA |
| Monocacy MARC Station | Washington, DC |
| Urbana Park & Ride (North) | Bethesda, MD |
| Thurmont | Bethesda, MD |
| Walkersville | Bethesda, MD |
| New Design Rd Park & Ride | Bethesda, MD |
| Mount Airy Park & Ride | Bethesda, MD |
| Urbana District Park | Bethesda, MD |
| New Design Rd Park & Ride | Rockville, MD |
| New Design Rd Park & Ride | Gaithersburg, MD |
| Thurmont | Gaithersburg, MD |
| Grove Road | Manassas, VA |
Interested in finding out if a current vanpool route matches your commute? Contact us to learn more!
Types of Vanpools
There are 3 kinds of vanpools:
- Owner-Operated Vans - An individual leases or purchases a van and operates the van independently. Riders generally meet at a central location and pay the owner a set monthly fee.
- Third-Party Vans - A vanpool "vendor" leases the vanpool vehicle for a monthly fee that includes the vehicle operating cost, insurance, and maintenance. The vendor can contract directly with 1 or more employees. The monthly lease fee is paid by the group of users. Military personnel may also benefit from this vanpooling arrangement.
- Employer-Provided Vans - The employer (or a group of employers) buys or leases vans for employees’ commute use. The employer organizes the vanpool riders and insures and maintains the vehicles. The employer may charge a fee to ride in the van or subsidize the service. Check with your company’s Human Resources Department.
Assistance in Finding Riders
Transit Services will assist new and existing vanpools/carpools in finding riders. Transit offers a financial subsidy for empty seats to vanpools in the first year of operation.
Eligible vanpools may receive financial assistance during the first 12 months of operation, not to exceed the following limits:
| Vehicle | Per Month Maximum | Per Month Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1-6 | Months 7-12 | |
| 15-passenger van | $500 Maximum | $300 Maximum |
| 13-passenger van | $450 Maximum | $270 Maximum |
| 12-passenger van | $433 Maximum | $260 Maximum |
| 10-passenger van | $377 Maximum | $226 Maximum |
| 9-passenger van | $338 Maximum | $200 Maximum |
| 8-passenger van | $300 Maximum | $180 Maximum |
| 7-passenger van | $263 Maximum | $158 Maximum |
a. The per-seat subsidy is derived by dividing the Total Eligible Operating expenses of the vanpool (lease cost and gasoline) by the number of seating positions available in the vanpool vehicle, excluding the driver position.
b. The total subsidy amount is derived by multiplying the per-seat subsidy by the number of unfilled seats.
Additional Resources
View information on vanpool services in the greater metro region.