UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State faculty and staff looking for a convenient and cost-effective commute to campus are invited to explore a vanpool through CATACommute and Commute with Enterprise.
Flex Vanpool Program
CATACommute and Commute with Enterprise have announced that commuters will now have access to a flexible vanpool program. This subscription-based service is geared toward those who are on a hybrid schedule and working two to five days per week. The price per participant is no longer based on the number of people in the vanpool, but instead is based on the number of days they’re commuting each week. Riders’ subscriptions include vanpool fees, taxes and fuel.
Vanpool benefits include:
- Save on vehicle expenses, including fuel, as well as maintenance and miles on your vehicle.
- Eligible vanpools can receive up to $600 monthly subsidy per vehicle from CATA.
- Month-to-month flexibility.
- Maintenance, insurance and roadside assistance are included.
- Reduces carbon footprint.
- Relax on the way to work — sleep, text, chat or scroll on social media.
Current vanpools
The following vanpools are active and looking for riders to fill the remaining three seats in their van:
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Altoona/Penn State – This vanpool leaves from Altoona at 7 a.m. and arrives at Penn State by 7:45 a.m. It then departs from Penn State at 5:10 p.m. and arrives back in Altoona by 6 p.m.
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Lewistown/Penn State – This vanpool leaves from Lewistown at 6:30 a.m. It makes three stops on the way to Penn State. The first stop is at 6:40 a.m. in Burnham, the second stop is at 6:50 a.m. in Milroy, and the third stop is at 7:15 a.m. in State College. The vanpool arrives at Penn State at 7:30 a.m. It then departs from Penn State at 5 p.m. and arrives in Lewistown by 6 p.m.
Areas with vanpool interest
The following areas have people interested in starting a vanpool to travel to and from Penn State but need additional riders to activate them:
- Huntingdon
- Philipsburg
- Millheim
- Lock Haven/Mill Hall
There also is interest in additional vanpools in Altoona and Lewistown with different start and end times than the existing vanpools.
Click here to learn more about vanpooling.
Those with any level of interest can reach out and submit your information to Bill Whiteside at william.whiteside@em.com. Submitting your information does not commit you to joining a vanpool but provides CATACommute with the opportunity to learn more about interest levels and allows them to help those who are interested in finding a vanpool that works for them.