A Pace Feeder Vanpool helps you save money while traveling from your job to train or bus services, or even to a park-n-ride lot. You can organize a Feeder Vanpool for trips between your home and public transportation or park-n-ride locations.
Feeder Vanpools are great for regular commutes (2-7 days a week) while an alternative program--called VanGo--can be set up for one day at a time.
Pace offers the Feeder Vanpool program as an affordable commute option and provides a well-maintained vehicle that includes automobile liability insurance, fuel, maintenance, roadside assistance, tolls, van washes and a guaranteed ride home. Pace oversees the program and provides driver training. The van can travel up to 600 miles each month for work-related trips, fueling, maintenance, washes, and the driver’s personal use.
The process begins when a group of 3 more commuters decide to travel together, or a commuter finds an existing group to join. Groups discuss and finalize their travel details which includes a first or last mile connection to a public transportation or park-n-ride location. Next, they select their volunteer driver(s) and fill out a Pace Vanpool application. Potential driver candidates must meet the program driver requirements.
After the approval process is completed, the group is provided a Pace-owned van. They organize parking so participants can access the van before or after riding public transportation. The primary driver’s participates at no cost and receives personal miles that can be used for lunch, errands and more. Riders pay a low monthly fare to Pace which is $58 for those who ride full-time (4 or more days a week) or $29 for part-time riders (3 days or fewer per week). Additionally, riders who help with driving can enjoy a backup driver discount arranging from $15-25 per month based on how often they participate. The savings can add up to about $180 to $300 per year in rider fare discounts.
Explore our Transit app to plan a bus or train ride to work. If you need transit passes, visit Ventra.Chicago.com. You can also find park-n-ride locations. It might be a good idea to check out the parking lots beforehand to see how many spots are open. For the lots owned by Pace, overnight parking is permitted. However, if you’re using a lot that isn’t owned by Pace, be sure to follow their specific rules. At Metra stations, overnight and weekends parking usually requires permission and often a permit from the local municipality.
Keep in mind that the Pace Vanpool program does not include expenses for bus or train fares, or parking expenses. In many situations, parking is available at no cost. Typically, these costs are shared among the group, or they might be paid using an employee tax-free commuter benefit.
