Looking to save money on your commute? This ‘vanpool’ service is looking for riders in Middle Tennessee – Tennessean
While growth in the Nashville metro area may be slowing down, residents still face heavy traffic on a daily basis as they make the commute to work.
The region grew by an average of 83 people a day between July 2017 and July 2018, according to Census population estimates. That’s less than in previous years, but the area continues to see consistently high tourism rates and record-low unemployment.
And while public transportation is an option for some, a bus or train ride might not work out for a commuter who works second or third shift.
Mark Szyperski, founder of On Your Mark Transportation and a consultant for the transportation industry, said many residents may not realize another public transportation option exists in VanStar, a regional vanpool service operated and managed by the TMA Group on behalf of Williamson County and the Regional Transportation Authority.
The program is funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. And it’s hoping to attract more residents from outside of Davidson County, including Sumner County.
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Ride sharing can save you money
One of the most appealing benefits to a rideshare program such as VanStar might be that it can save commuters a lot of money.
The IRS estimates that it costs drivers 52 cents per mile to operate their vehicles. That includes gas, car maintenance and other expenses.
A driver who travels 30 miles one way to work — for example, from Gallatin to Nashville — would spend approximately $7,862.40 per year, according to information provided by VanStar. A group of five that uses VanStar would spend approximately $1,680 a year, saving each driver $6,182.40.
And that’s not counting the savings commuters will have from not putting so many miles on their personal vehicles.
How it works
VanStar will provide a van for groups of five or more who are headed in the same direction. Commuters don’t need to be traveling to the same address, so long as they are in the same vicinity, Szyperski said. And whether the riders are working first or third shift, so long as they are traveling at the same time, they’ll have access to a ride.
VanStar will train one or more of the riders to drive the van, which then stays with the group. A mileage card is provided — with taxes already taken out since it’s a federal program, Szyperski explained — and maintenance of the van is also covered, so there are no out-of-pocket expenses for the riders.
Riders typically pay for the service a month in advance, Szyperski explained.
“In some van groups, everybody in the van is a driver,” he said. “They all take one day or one week and all share in the driving. Some say they’re doing this to avoid driving and just want to ride.”
Szyperski said the groups become “a little community.”
Some groups trade off getting donuts for the van each week. Others agree to stop at the grocery store on the way home one day a week.
“We allow that,” he said. “The group makes decisions for the van.”
A help to businesses
Businesses can also benefit from the program, Szyperski said.
Ride sharing allows businesses to recruit employees from out of town.
And employers have the option of allowing employees to have VanStar payments withdrawn from their paychecks, which saves both the employee and employer on taxes.
The problem, is, Szyperski said, not many people know the program exists.
“We’re one of the best-kept secrets in public transportation,” he said.
Looking to expand
The Franklin-based service provides transportation to riders throughout Middle Tennessee, including Williamson County, and is growing in Clarksville. Commuters also travel to Cheatham County and from Rutherford County to Nashville, Szyperski said. But they are looking for more riders in Sumner, Robertson and Wilson counties.
Find out more
If riders already have a group in mind, VanStar can get a van set up in about a week, Szyperski said.
But riders who are looking for a group can put their information on VanStar’s website, and the system will do a sweep for people from the same area looking to travel to similar areas.
To find out more, visit vanstar.com.
Regional Editor Amy Nixon can be reached at 615-946-7549 or anixon@gannett.com.
Published 6:00 AM EST Nov 18, 2019
