More riders using Intercity Transit’s vanpool program 

Intercity Transit’s vanpool program continues to grow with more groups forming to utilize the service, according to an update by Vanpool Manager Lynne Cunningham to the Intercity Transit Authority on Wednesday, Sept. 3. 

Intercity Transit’s vanpooling service allows a group of three or more people to ride to work together using a shared vehicle. The agency provides the vehicle, fuel, maintenance and insurance, while riders pay a monthly fee depending on their daily mileage. Group members agree on their own routes and schedule, and elect one or more of them to drive.  

Intercity Transit’s vanpool program has 156 active groups, 41 of which were created in 2024. It has also expanded its reach to 363 employer worksites, compared with 311 a year ago. 

Many groups are long-standing with around 40 of them having been active for more than 10 years. 

“I think that demonstrates that many people find the service very valuable over the long term,” Cunningham said. 

Cunningham said participants benefit from lower transportation costs, reduced wear on their cars and gaining access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes, all while helping the environment. 

In the month of July 2025 alone, Cunningham said the program saved customers more than $300 in fuel and maintenance costs, cut 500,000 miles of driving from state roads, eliminated nearly 15,000 vehicle trips and prevented more than 300 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Ridership level 

In terms of ridership levels, the number of miles traveled and number of trips taken in the first two quarters of the year have already surpassed figures for 2024. According to Cunningham’s presentation, miles traveled in the first two quarters of 2025 are 224,479, while 2024 racked up 213,295 miles. In terms of trips, there have been 16,957 trips so far this year compared with 16,888 last year. 

Cunningham noted that the program has still not returned to its pre-COVID ridership levels. In 2019, miles traveled by vanpool vehicles was 230,317 while trips numbered 40,474. However, Cunningham noted, that commute has changed for many employees with more people working in hybrid setups or remotely.  

The state of Washington is the program’s largest client, operating 35 vanpool groups. Joint Base Lewis-McChord follows with 30 groups. Among private employers, Hardel Plywood leads with 18 groups, followed by Boeing with 11. 

Intercity Transit employees have 11 vanpool groups.

“It demonstrates a high level of engagement with our employees walking the talk, using our service, and being able to be true advocates for our service,” Cunningham said. 

Future changes to fare 

As for fare, Intercity Transit has a tiered fare structure that started in 2022 as part of a demonstration project. 

Participants pay a monthly fare based on daily trip distance, starting at $25 for 25 miles or less and up to $200 for trips up to 200 miles.  

Riders also have the option to join a vanpool group for a single day for a single trip fare of $10. 

Cunningham said they have been analyzing the data and will bring forward their recommendations when the project wraps up in 2027. She said the transit agency is looking to keep the fare affordable, while also encouraging more participants. 

“Between us and Pierce Transit, they'll come to us because our fares are much more affordable, so we want to keep it that way and also encourage people to ride,” Cunningham said. 

Future changes could also help ease staff’s workload. Cunningham said they are one of the few transit agencies to charge vanpool fares monthly, which they hope to change in the future. 

“I think it would also encourage more ridership, because once you pay your money, you get your money's worth out of it, so you ride more often.” Cunningham said. 

Serving smaller employers 

After the presentation, Intercity Transit Authority member Robert Vanderpool asked what the agency was doing to reach out to smaller employers. 

Cunningham said forming vanpool groups is easier when employees have similar schedules and live in the same area. However, the agency does help to connect individuals to existing groups or group together individuals even though they may not know each other. 

There was also a question if vanpool vehicles carry wheelchair lifts. General Manage Bergkamp said they have a dedicated van with accessibility features, but noted that it has not been requested for quite some time.