News Release

Federal Employees Take Advantage of Federal Transit Benefit
Working with RideShare Delaware to Start Vanpools

TSgt Wesley Crocker, a Delaware Air National Guard employee, has been registered as a carpool rider with RideShare Delaware since December 2003. He registered his commute in order to take advantage of RideShare's emergency ride home benefit. Knowing he had fellow co-workers sharing the same commute from Dover to New Castle, he contacted the RideShare staff to learn more about their vanpool program. When he was advised about the Federal employee transportation benefit (EO 13150), providing Federal employees $105 a month for using vanpool or public transit, he was determined to get his vanpool started. And it couldn't come at a better time. On Wednesday, August 31st, TSgt. Wesley Crocker and 13 other fellow Air Guardsmen and women will now be enjoying the commute to work in a deluxe 14-passenger commuter van. The best part? With each employee receiving a monthly subsidy of $105 to commute, their cost of commuting is expected to be $25/month.

Here's what TSgt. Crocker had to say, "I have benefited as a carpooler for many years and I thought a vanpool would benefit more of us and save us more money and wear and tear on our cars. I thought people who are skeptical of carpooling would be more open minded to a vanpool when they realized the savings and the benefits from it. Who likes driving 2 hrs a day every day anyway? Let's face it, we commute so we can live away from the city and enjoy a cheaper cost of living. A vanpool is all about cutting cost and making long drives practical. RideShare Delaware puts the missing piece of the puzzle together making it easy for everyone to say 'yes' to a vanpool. The environmental savings and traffic reduction can't be overlooked either. My biggest reason for starting this vanpool is quoted on every gas station sign you see and it's getting bigger and bigger every day."

The Transportation Management Association of Delaware (TMA Delaware), administrates the one and only statewide ridematch service, RideShare Delaware, a free public service of DART First State. "This makes the 3rd vanpool to hit the road within the past year, and we have more waiting to get started," says TMA Program Manager Tammy Ford. TMA Delaware is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving reductions in traffic congestion, improving mobility and air quality, and educating employers and their employees about transportation alternatives.

TMA is partnering with VPSI, Inc., a vanpool services company, to provide the vehicles needed by vanpool groups. "This is a long-established partnership between our two organizations, and we're happy to see interest growing in Delaware," says Ms. Ford. "VPSI provides top notch customer service to their customers," she adds.

Interested employers and employees may obtain more information by calling Tammy Ford, Program Manager at TMA Delaware, at (302) 658-9001. For additional information on other Delaware commuting programs, visit TMA Delaware's website at www.tmadelaware.org.