Under a program that started in October, will lease you and four friends a brand new Chevrolet Traverse for your commute.
A driver and all four passengers would each pay about $100 a month for the SUV, gas, maintenance and insurance, said Paul DesRocher, manager of Smart Commute Metro North.
The hope is that co-workers, neighbors or friends who have never carpooled will be a lot more willing to team up to save gas and ease congestion in an unadorned but sparkling SUV, DesRocher said.
“Having them unmarked that way, people won’t have the association of being involved in something that’s a little dorky, ” said DesRocher. “It’s just a little less obvious.”
Smart Commute Metro North is a non-profit that aims to get single-passenger vehicles off a packed .
Its “Concierge Commute” program is one of the more innovative approaches to cut congestion and improve air quality on Denver’s crowded freeways, said Steve Erickson, spokesman for the Denver Regional Council of Governments.
“This is seen as a valuable pilot project for ,” he said.
That’s mainly because the program offers a flat rate for prospective passengers and works to take the stigma out of carpooling.
“Rather than having a van with pastels on the side announcing it’s part of a commuting fleet, it’s a less geeky, more sexy ride,” Erickson said.
DRCOG works with several regional transportation groups like Smart Commute to get more people out of their single-occupant habits, said Erickson.
“We offer real-life solutions, helping commuters save money, experience less stress and save time, so that they can focus more on the things they enjoy,” Erickson said.
This winter, for instance, DRCOG will work with CDOT and I-70 businesses to offer vanpools to people who want to hit ski resorts over the weekend.
Another group — — is working along with Ames/Granite Joint Venture to provide a three-month reimbursement of up to $150 for new vanpools traveling through the U.S. 36 corridor between Denver and Boulder.
, like north I-25, is undergoing a massive widening effort that includes adding toll lanes.
The hassles of dealing with construction congestion could lead many to try van or carpooling for the first time, said Audrey DeBarros, 36 Community Solutions’ executive director.
“The three-month cost break will give commuters that little extra nudge to give vanpooling a try, which will likely lead to long-term commute behavior change once the initial subsidy has been reached,” DeBarros said.
Smart Commute offered free ticket books for rides on Regional Transportation District buses during this past summer’s ozone season, DesRocher said.
The books were worth $35, and the organization gave out 250 of them.
“It was a huge success, and we wanted to build on that,” he said.
Smart Commute began working with , a sharing network that has provided vehicles for businesses and governments for 30 years, for the SUVs.
Depending on the success of the program, as many as seven will be available for use, DesRocher said.
Applicants must have a “reasonably” clean driving record — more specifically, three or fewer moving violations over the past three years, he said.
“Then there is a 15-day turnaround, and then you can find yourself behind the wheel,” DesRocher said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907, mwhaley@denverpost.com or twitter.com/montewhaley
