In an effort to further reduce the cost of commuting, decrease vehicle emissions, and help improve air quality, Phoenix-based Valley Metro is lowering the cost of vanpooling this fall.

Vanpools are groups of commuters – most often colleagues from the same workplace – who share the commute and the driving of a Valley Metro van. Groups from six to 15 share the cost of gas and commute together instead of driving alone to work. They determine their own route and schedule. A group as small as six passengers can keep more than four pounds* of pollution out of the air every day that they don’t drive alone.

During the months of September and October, Valley Metro and their contractor, VPSI, which manages the vans, will offer one month free to those who form a new vanpool for commuting. New vanpools pay for the first month and receive the second month free. The only cost during the second month is the shared price of gasoline.

“While saving time and money are important for many commuters, it’s the environmental savings that benefits all Valley residents the most,” says Gary Roberts, manager of vanpool services at Valley Metro. “A group of 15 vanpooling together equates to 140 trips each week that are not traveled by people driving alone. That keeps nearly 305 pounds* of pollution out of the air.”

*based on average roundtrip commute in Maricopa County of 31.6 miles, and 1 pound of pollution generated every 45.5 miles by the typical vehicle, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments