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The policy for subsidizing Stanford University vanpools was intended to provide assistance to vanpools when the vanpool experiences a temporary empty seat. Under the previous policy, vanpools could request funding for one empty seat for up to three months per year. Parking & Transportation Services (P&TS) is revising this policy to provide support across-the-board for all vanpools on a monthly basis in lieu of providing an empty-seat subsidy. Effective September 1, 2007, each official Stanford vanpool* will receive a $200 per month subsidy to be paid by P&TS to the vanpool coordinator in the form of vanpool vouchers. This subsidy is intended to defray the cost of the van, subsidize gas expenses, subsidize empty seats, encourage the creation of a reserve fund to cover temporary periods of empty seat(s), or defray other operating costs of the van.
The new vanpool subsidy policy is in addition to existing P&TS benefits for vanpools, which include all of the following as of September 1, 2007:
- $200 per month subsidy for each official Stanford vanpool
paid to the vanpool coordinator in the form of vanpool vouchers.
- Each eligible Stanford vanpool member can join the Commute Club and receive Clean Air Cash of up to $234 per year, up to 12 free hourly car rental vouchers per year, and member gifts. Commute Club members also are entered into Commute Club prize drawings.
- One free parking permit for each eligible vanpool.
- Reserved parking space for each official vanpool.
- Eligible employees may purchase commuter checks with pre-tax dollars via payroll deduction and may use commuter checks to pay for part of their commercial vanpool expenses. (Commercial vanpools only.)
- Eligible vanpool members can use the Emergency Ride Home program to ensure that they will not be stranded on campus in a personal emergency.
- Eligible vanpool members are allowed to purchase up to eight daily permits per month, and have them mailed to their home.
- Vanpools can participate in Stanford's free online ride matching service to recruit new vanpool members and can request assistance from P&TS to conduct targeted outreach to help recruit new vanpool riders.
- Vanpools can request assistance identifying subsidies through 511.org and vanpool leasing companies.
* To be considered an official Stanford vanpool, a vanpool must comprise at least 50 percent Stanford University employees, students, or Stanford Hospital employees. If the vanpool does not meet this requirement, the vanpool will not be eligible for a free Stanford vanpool permit and other official vanpool benefits. Stanford passengers in the vanpool, however, may apply for Commute Club and Clean Air Cash provided they meet all eligibility requirements. |
