Vanpool Seat Subsidy Program

The 511 Regional Rideshare Program will offer a vanpool seat subsidy in the form of gas cards. The seat subsidy will provide $100 per month, with a limit of three months per van during the program year, to help cover the fare of a lost participant. The gas cards will be offered to eligible vans on a first-come, first-served basis, until the funds are exhausted.

Who qualifies for help in finding riders?

• Any van listed on the 511 Regional Rideshare Program website’s critical van listing as of July 1, 2004 will be eligible.
• Existing vanpools (vans on the road prior to July 1, 2004 ) may qualify if they have a minimum of seven participants and show a drop to six or fewer participants for a minimum of three weeks. Three weeks following the loss of a participant, a list must be provided indicating the ridership prior to the loss and identifying which participant is no longer in the vanpool.
• New vanpools (vans started on or after April 1, 2004 ) may qualify if they have been on the road for 30 days with a minimum of seven participants.

All Drivers and/or Coordinators must be registered with the 511 Regional Rideshare Program and provide a list of participants including day-time phone numbers reflecting participants before and after the loss. Applicants must fill out the Seat Subsidy application. Calls will be made to participants including the lost participant to verify the empty seat. If eligible, gas cards will be sent to employers and/or individuals responsible for coordinating and/or handling the vanpool’s finances within 10 business days of the verification calls being completed. Eligible vans can receive funds for up to three months (not necessarily consecutive).

Eligibility Requirements:

A vanpool is eligible for the Seat Subsidy gas cards when the following conditions are met:

1. A driver and/or coordinator has been registered with the 511 Regional Rideshare Program for at least 30 days, shows a good faith effort to fill the empty seat ** AND
2. The van loses one or more passengers and is on the road with reduced ridership for a minimum of three weeks AND
3. The van has an origin and/or destination within the 511 Regional Rideshare Program’s nine county service area † AND
4. The driver and/or coordinator has provided a complete list of participants with current day-time contact information and has updated the 511 Regional Rideshare Program with any changes in van participation.
5. All vanpools regardless of size must have a minimum of seven participants prior to losing a participant.
6. Vanpools that have been awarded any monies and/or are qualifying for gas cards from the 511 Regional Rideshare Program’s Start Incentive cannot apply simultaneously for the Seat Subsidy. Should a van qualify and/or receive gas cards for the start incentive during any of the qualifying months and then lose riders the van can apply for the seat subsidy, however this will disqualify the van from the Start Incentive. Opting out of the Start Incentive will enable the van to apply for the Seat Subsidy.

Register online to become a vanpool driver or contact a 511 Regional Rideshare Program Vanpool Consultant by calling 511, say Rideshare.

*The 511 Regional Rideshare Program is administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). The 511 Regional Rideshare Program encourages commuters to try alternate forms of transportation such as carpools, vanpools and transit. Each eligible Vanpool Driver or Coordinator (Participant) applying to receive the seat subsidy acknowledges that participation in the Vanpool Seat Subsidy Program is strictly voluntary and that such participation is not within the course and scope of his/her employment. The 511 Regional Rideshare Program reserves the right at its sole discretion to determine eligibility of any Participant, and may change, modify or discontinue the Vanpool Seat Subsidy Program without notice, at any time and for any reason including but not limited to a loss of, or change in, funding. Each Participant shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless MTC and their respective officers, directors, agents, contractors, and employees against any and all suits, claims or actions arising out of any injury to persons or property that may occur, or that may be alleged to have occurred, in the course of their participation in this Vanpool Seat Subsidy Program caused by an act or omission of the indemnifying Participant.

** Only employers and/or individuals who coordinate and/or have financial responsibility for the vanpool and are registered with the 511 Regional Rideshare Program may qualify. All coordinators and/or drivers must submit a Vanpool Seat Subsidy Application and an Eligibility Requirements Form (participant list) for each of the months they are applying for up to a maximum of three months. The seat subsidy will cover only one lost participant per month. The subsidy will be awarded to all vans that meet the eligibility requirements on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are exhausted. The 511 Regional Rideshare Program reserves the right to make the final determination of eligibility on a case-by case basis. Any discrepancies in information gathered during verification calls may disqualify the van. If conflicting information is provided, preference will be given to information that disqualifies the van. The total amount a van can qualify for in any given month is $100 in gas cards regardless of how many participants have been lost. Vans need to notify the 511 Regional Rideshare Program of who has left the van. If the van wishes to be eligible for the next consecutive month, they must resubmit a participant list by the end of the second month. Participant lists with day-time phone numbers are required. Verification calls will be made randomly.

† 511 Regional Rideshare Program service area - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties