Parking and Transportation Services has partnered with the Metropolitan Council to offer you Van-GO!, a program that will match university members who live in the same geographic area and commute to work along a similar path. By creating vanpool matches and providing the vehicle, Van-GO! greatly reduces the cost of commuting for all.

New Vanpool Forming – By City

Active Vanpools – By City

What is a Vanpool?

A vanpool is a group of 5 to 15 individuals voluntarily participating in a ridesharing arrangement.  Vanpool drivers and back-up drivers are themselves commuters who are volunteers receiving no compensation for their efforts.  Vanpool drivers use the van to pickup, transport and deliver the other vanpool passengers to and from their residences (or a common staging area) to the University. The van is parked in a reserved parking space on campus. The vehicle makes one trip to work and one trip home each day. The vehicle may be used for personal use as defined in the Volunteer Driver Agreement, but may not be used to carry passengers for hire or outside the scope of the regular home-to-work commute.  The program operates on a 30 day, pay-as-you-go basis, so there are no long term commitments.

Van-GO! Driver Incentives

þ      Primary Drivers ride for FREE!

þ      Primary Driver receives $100 after the first 6 months of driving, and $100 once a year thereafter from the Metropolitan Council. *Some restrictions may apply.

þ      Back-up drivers get $50 after the first 6 months, and $50 once a year thereafter from the Metropolitan Council. *Some restrictions may apply.

þ      Primary Drivers get additional miles that they can use for personal use. The amount of personal miles is determined when the lease is set up.

 Additional Vanpool Incentives

þ      Realize a significant fuel cost savings compared with driving alone.

þ      Reduce your parking expenses by sharing the cost.

þ      Reduce wear and tear on your personal vehicle (oil changes, tire rotation, etc.).

þ      Reduce what you pay for insurance on your personal vehicle as a result of reduced usage.

þ      Arrive at work relaxed.  Read, sleep or engage in conversation with fellow vanpoolers.

þ      Help to reduce highway congestion and reduce emissions while improving local air quality.

Program Requirements

The following requirements must be met in order to participate in Van-GO!

þ      The van must have at least 5 people including the driver and passengers.

þ      Everyone in the van must be registered with Van-GO!.

þ      The van must be commuting on a route with limited or no transit services.

þ      The group must use a van leased from VPSI.

How will Vanpooling affect my Current Parking Contract?

For all vanpools, Parking and Transportation Services will work with the driver/group to find convenient parking. Parking may be a reserved stall in a public parking lot or a spot in a contract facility – both are based on availability. Vanpools will receive free use of the van as well as free parking for the first two weeks.

After the first two weeks, vanpools may park in exclusive carpool parking locations around campus and pay the discounted public carpool rate of $2.25 per day, or purchase a contract at the regular rate, based on space availability.

If a University of Minnesota staff or faculty member who currently has a parking contract switches to vanpooling, he or she must notify PTS in writing and the contract will be suspended (payroll deductions will cease). The contract will be placed on hold for six weeks. After six weeks, the contract is cancelled.

Vanpool members who drive alone for personal reasons need to locate and pay for their parking (the daily lots are served by the campus shuttle system).

For vanpools that disband, PTS will work with previous parking contract holders to facilitate their conversion back to an individual contract where space is available. Only people who were active contract holders at the time of the vanpool creation will receive this benefit.

How Do I Get Home in an Emergency?

With the Metropolitan Council’s Guaranteed Ride Home program, you won't have to worry about being stuck at work without a ride home when an emergency happens or you unexpectedly have to work later hours.  Click here to learn more.   

How Much Will a Vanpool Cost? 

The cost to vanpool is dependent on the type of vehicle selected and the monthly round trip mileage.  Vans are owned, licensed and registered by VPSI, Inc., the contract service provider for Van-Go! VPSI’s monthly cost includes insurance and routine and unscheduled maintenance.  Riders in the vanpool pay an equal share of the monthly cost.  Below is pricing for a Model Year 2006 Dodge Caravan which includes Minnesota sales tax.  The Primary Driver rides for free.  Larger groups can save even more per person when a 9, 12, or 15 passenger van is selected.

Who pays for gas, washes and parking?

Gas, washes and parking are not included in the monthly cost. VPSI suggests each group adopt a treasurer who will collect an equal share of the total cost from each rider.  Some groups include the Primary Driver/Coordinator in the cost sharing while others do not.  The choice is yours.

How Long am I Required to Participate in a Vanpool?

VPSI vanpools operate on a 30 day, pay-as-you-go basis.  The Primary Driver must provide VPSI, Inc. with 30 days notice prior to termination.  Although not a written agreement, riders on the vanpool are required to provide the Primary Driver with 30 days notice so that the group can work to fill the empty seat.

Getting Started & Contact Information

To read or print driving criteria, applications and agreements related to coordinating a new vanpool group or serving as an alternate/back-up driver click here.

VPSI Contacts: 

Jeff Arnold or Bill Grindberg of VPSI

Phone: 1-800-Van-Ride (1-800-826-7433) or 612-331-4299

Email: uofmvanpools@vpsiinc.com.