One of the keys to successful economic development in a rural area is having the infrastructure needed to get workers where they need to go. According to the U.S. Census, over 35% of Coconino County residents travel more than 50 miles to work each day.
Which is why ECONA is pleased that NAIPTA (Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority), the folks behind the Mountain Line bus system, has added van pool services to its transit offerings.
The vanpool program is particularly ideal for those employees with daily commutes between outlying County areas into the city of Flagstaff.
Being part of a van pool saves wear and tear on your personal vehicle, is good for the environment and, best of all, saves you money. That’s even more true because vanpooling is considered a form of public transportation, and presently up to $255 a month of expenses can be paid in pre-tax dollars.
Courtesy photo.
Vanpools can be started with as few as five people and have capacity for up to 12. NAIPTA was recently awarded a grant to help offset the ridership costs for vanpool participation.
For those of you already participating in a carpool, you might want to consider switching to this program – NAIPTA provides the vehicles on a monthly lease that also includes routine maintenance, unscheduled repairs, 24-hour roadside assistance/towing, loaner vans (if necessary), $1,000,000 liability insurance coverage and an emergency-ride-home program.
If you are interested in either starting your own vanpool or joining an existing one, send an email to Rick MacNeal (rick.macneal@vride.com) for a personalized quote. Please include your home address, work address, number of days worked per week and if you have additional people interested in joining you.
Companies can also join the vanpool revolution by offering the service as a benefit and save money either through direct corporate tax deductions or reduced payroll taxes. There are other benefits for employers as well; studies show that riding sharing results in better attitude among participants, less absenteeism and improved on-time attendance.
Find out more about NAIPTA’s vanpool program HERE.
Sincerely,
John Stigmon
ECONA Vice President