Vanpool

What is a Vanpool? It’s Your Commute. Only Better.

Vanpool is just like carpooling, but with a few more people. Using a Spokane Transit 7, 12 or 15-passenger van, a group of people who live and work in approximately the same area are able to commute together to save money. STA vans are assigned to commuter groups and driven by volunteers who share the commute. The volunteer drivers are trained by Spokane Transit on defensive driving and safety. All services and costs are wrapped up into one low monthly fare.

Did you know Spokane Transit Vanpools cater to longer distance commutes; 20, 40 mile, even 100 plus miles daily? Vanpool serves eastern Washington and northern Idaho, as long as the van starts or ends in Spokane Transit boundaries.

Now you’ve made your commute on a Vanpool and you need to run an errand. No worries; upon request, Spokane Transit provides each vanpool participant a bus pass.

Benefits of Vanpool:

• You travel direct to and from work.
• You sit in a comfortable seat and forget about other drivers and traffic.
• You are free to read, work, text, even sleep.
• You may obtain a smart card bus pass for use on any bus route.
• Registration for a smart card is available here.
• Your employer may pay all or part of the cost.
• There is no long-term commitment.

Call Spokane Transit Vanpool at 509-326-POOL or complete the [Contact Form]

Welcome to Vanpool!

We are excited to hear you are interested in riding with Vanpool. A Vanpool is a group of 3 or more people that commute to work together in our vehicle. It’s a great way to relax and save big!

Joining is Simple:

Find a Vanpool Group to Join

The best way to find a group is to use www.CommuteFinderNW.com to enter your commute information and search for Vanpools. If we have existing groups that match your commute, you will see a list with their route, schedule, and contact information.

If a Vanpool match is not currently available for your commute, you can start your own Vanpool! You’ll need 3 people total to start, and you can try using the carpool search to generate leads and gauge interest.

Contact the Driver

Contact the group through www.CommuteFinderNW.com to confirm they have space on their van and are able to accommodate an extra passenger. Inform them of where you work and if you’ll require an extra stop to be made.

The driver will let you know where the van meets and what time you’ll need to arrive by to meet the van.

Submit a Rider Agreement to STA

Complete and submit the rider agreement online, or download the Rider Agreement Form and email to [email protected].

If you have questions or need assistance in this process, please call us at (509) 326-POOL or by email at [email protected].

Many essential workers in our community rely on public transportation to get to work. Spokane Transit Vanpool is continuing to offer commuter services while maintaining temporary emergency practices to promote rider safety.

Face Coverings Required by Federal Mandate:

• Face coverings are required at all times while riding in an STA Vanpool vehicle.
• Face coverings must completely cover your nose and mouth, must have two or more layers of breathable fabric, and must fit snugly against the sides of your face without gaps.
• The Vanpool Office has complimentary face coverings available to registered participants upon request.
• For full CDC guidelines visit here.

Vanpool has enacted the following protocols to fight the spread of COVID-19:

• The minimum rider requirement has been lowered from five participants per van to two participants in order to provide additional space for social distancing.
• Vanpool groups may split into multiple vans to reduce the number of riders per vehicle.
• Disinfectant wipes are available upon request to help riders can keep van surfaces clean.
• Deep cleaning and full vehicle sanitization are available upon request.

For the latest information about the Coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov. Spokane Regional Health District has posted answers to frequently asked questions about face coverings here, and you can find more information about Spokane Transit’s COVID-19 response here.

The monthly fare is determined based on where your vanpool starts and ends:

• $60 a month if your commute is within Spokane County
• $80 a month if your commute includes Kootenai or Stevens County
• $100 a month if your commute is in any other county

Fares cover all costs, including fuel, maintenance, 24-hour roadside assistance, insurance, and snow tires. Ask your human resources department or Employee Transportation Coordinator if your employer provides a fare subsidy for public transit!

Vanpool fares are due on the first of the month and can be paid online at www.commutefindernw.com or by check mailed to STA at 1230 W. Boone Ave. Upon request, active vanpool participants are entitled to a complimentary smart card bus pass for use on any STA bus, anytime!

Forming or joining a Vanpool can be accomplished in three easy steps:

• Find at least two and up to 14 other people who share a similar commute.
• Choose a primary driver and at least one back-up. You’ll also need a bookkeeper to submit monthly ridership and payment reports. Any rider, including drivers, can be the group bookkeeper or the group contact.
• Decide on a proposed route, pick-up points and schedule.

Complete a Vanpool Request Form

We hear you want to drive a Vanpool, how Vantastic!

Vanpool drivers are volunteers from the Vanpool group. We wouldn’t be able to operate without you! Each group requires a minimum of two drivers, one primary, and at least one backup. Ideally, multiple drivers can share the duty so the group can have a great, stress-free commute.

Becoming a driver is fairly simple. You will submit a driver’s application, a copy of your driver’s license, and your driving record. We will then review your application, if your record is clean and you meet our driver guidelines, we will assign you an online defensive driving course that takes about an hour and a half to complete. Finally, you’ll agree to our policies and procedures, then be approved to drive off in your cool Vanpool van!

To get started, follow these steps:

1. Complete and submit the following forms:

• Driver’s Application (available online here)
• Rider Agreement (available online here)

2. Request a copy of your driving record:

• For Washington residents, you’ll need to request a copy through the Department of Licensing. For instructions, please download this PDF.
• If you have an Idaho license, we can obtain your driving record for you, please contact STA and move to the next step.

3. Scan or snap a photo of your driver’s license

4. Once you’ve completed these steps, send the documents to [email protected] and let us know you’d like to be a driver. We will work through the rest of the process with you by email.