Vanpool Hawaii

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- A Vanpool Hawaii vehicle is a way for Defense Department servicemembers to share rides. By vanpooling, environment-conscious and budget-conscious travelers can help take single-occupancy vehicles off the road, reducing negative air quality contributions, minimizing highway congestion, and allowing the United States to be less dependent on foreign oil. (Courtesy photo)

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DoD members use Vanpool Hawaii to save money, environment

Published July 14, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Tired of driving to and from base every day? Wondering why so many sport utility vehicles on the road have only one passenger but are taking up space and polluting the air with toxic fumes? Wish you knew how to save a little more money on ever-increasing fuel and vehicle maintenance costs?

Vanpool Hawaii is the largest ridesharing program in the United States and Europe, and Defense Department servicemembers are a large target of its 300-vehicle fleet since 1994 when the company came to Hawaii.

"One hundred fifty of those vehicles are designated to DoD members, and 300 servicemembers on Hickam Air Force Base regularly commute with Vanpool Hawaii," said Vicki Harris, Vanpool Hawaii executive director. "The military has consistently been one of our best customers."

The goal was to take single-occupancy vehicles off the road, reducing negative air quality contributions, minimizing highway congestion, and allowing the United States to be less dependent on foreign oil, according to Ms. Harris. Mostly on Oahu, these wrap vans are designated to a volunteer who is the lead driver. During a coordinated time frame, that driver picks up and carries on average five members. Vanpool Hawaii takes care of the registration, all the insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance and all of the vehicle maintenance for the entire time they use it.

Major Wesley Palmer, 13th Air Force International Health Specialist for the Pacific Air Forces, joined Vanpool Hawaii as a driver in 2006 and said it's nice to know that because of the vanpool there are fewer cars on the road.

"An office colleague and I lived near each other, and thought it would be a great way to help out the environment, save on commuting costs, and take advantage of great DoD benefit: the Transportation Incentive Program," Major Palmer said.

The cost for a seat in a Vanpool Hawaii vehicle is $65 a month; however, it is reimbursable through the TIP.

The TIP is a program intended to reduce federal employees' contribution totraffic congestion and air pollution, and to expand their commuting alternatives, according to a Vanpool Hawaii fact sheet. The federal Department of Transportation, on behalf of the DoD, purchases and distributes transit vouchers to DoD participants. Participants are eligible to receive up to $230 per month in vouchers, although the amount varies for different branches of the DoD). They can be used to cover Vanpool Hawaii seat fees and fuel costs.

DoD employees not only have the monthly expense taken care of by the government, but they also get to receive a gas card for the vehicle, according to Ty Bassingthwaite, Vanpool Hawaii Corporate Sales Executive.

Although the financial benefits help, "The main reason is for helping the environment," Major Palmer said. "On a daily basis, we reduce the number of cars on the road. This in turn decreases the pollution and traffic in our island community. There are way too many cars on the road with only one person in it, imagine how nice it would be not sitting in traffic if half of those cars disappeared due to people carpooling."

Meeting up with the other six riders adds only 10 minutes to his daily commute, Major Palmer said. He has a core group of riders that ride nearly every day, and some part-time riders who join if and when they can.

"Vanpool participants save time and money on parking, gas, wear and tear on their car, and possibly reduce their personal auto insurance bills," Ms. Harris said. The primary driver is also able to use the vehicle on off-duty time, so some families have drastically reduced expenses by eliminating a primary or secondary vehicle.

In order to be a driver, a person must be 25 years of aged, legally licensed in the state of Hawaii, have a clean driving record, and be employed full-time or a full-time student, Ms. Harris said.

For more information on how to save money and the environment through Vanpool Hawaii, or to fill out a Commuter Vanpool Application Form, visit www.vanpoolhawaii.com.