Research Triangle Park, N.C. –  Triangle Transit Authority is adding four new

seven-passenger vehicles to its vanpool fleet.

"The new seven-passenger ‘Flex-Fuel’ vans are a timely addition,” said Dr. Alice Gordon, Chair of the TTA Board of Trustees. “With high gas prices, our goal is to get more people riding together and these vans allow us to reach more prospective riders because the vehicles are closer to a size many are accustomed to driving.”  TTA has been operating a vanpool program since 1989 and most of the vans hold up to 15-passengers.

The seven-passenger Dodge Caravans were paid for with federal, state and local funds and are designed to run on conventional unleaded gasoline or E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) or any blend of the two, allowing the vanpools to take advantage of cleaner-burning E85 alternative fuel wherever it's available.

A vanpool is made up of no fewer than seven commuters who live and work near each other and who share approximately the same work hours. One leg of the vanpool's trip must begin or end in Durham, Orange or Wake counties.   TTA provides the van, pays for gas and insurance; and arranges, oversees, and pays for all maintenance. Van drivers must pass a credit check and DMV check. Riders pay a low monthly fare based on the average daily round-trip mileage. Fares for the vans are set to recover full costs.

The cost of a vanpool is often offset by employer contributions.  Earlier this year, the IRS increased the amount of transit benefits which companies can offer up to $110 a month.

One of the agencies that has supported employee vanpooling for years is the US EPA in Research Triangle Park. “At EPA, we have filled three of TTA's new mini vans, said Chris Long, EPA’s Director of Sustainable Development at RTP.  “This makes a total of fifteen TTA vanpools serving our campus, helping 100 people commute to and from work.  Since we're in the clean air business, we're thrilled to have this level of participation in TTA's program."

Vanpoolers are also immediately eligible to register online at www.GoTriangle.org for the free Emergency Ride Home program which provides registered participants with a reliable, emergency ride home on the day the person has used an alternative mode of transportation to get to work.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's Triangle Region and outlying counties. Regional bus and shuttle service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Hillsborough, RDU International Airport, Research Triangle Park and Raleigh.

The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts www.rideTTA.org and www.GoTriangle.org, on-line resources for public transportation information in the Triangle.  

For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.