Metro vanpool program is on the way for Pearland
Agency is looking to the vehicles, which will carry 3 to 5 riders and feature a flat rate, as bus usage has fallen amid the pandemic
PEARLAND — The Metropolitan Transit Authority is expanding its vanpool program to include Pearland as a pilot outside its service area.
The Pearland City Council recently unanimously approved the pilot program, which will run until Jan. 1. The effort, which may be extended if deemed successful, will feature a flat rate and accommodate three to five riders at a time instead of the usual five to 15 in a van.
After seeing bus ridership decline over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, Metro is looking to put more commuters in vans. The ridership decline has resulted in fewer buses on the roads and longer waits for riders. Pearland was considered a prime spot to debut the program because of the many residents who commute to downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center, officials said.
“Anything that takes cars off the road is a good idea, even in an experimental stage, and I’m all for it,” Councilman J. David Little said.
Vans will be based in the parking lots at the Shadow Creek Sports Complex, 13050 Shadow Creek Parkway, and at the Shadow Creek Ranch Nature Trail, 1801 Kingsley Drive.
The city will have control over how many vanpools can operate out of the locations (right now it’s limited to 10), and at what time the vans have to be returned to the lots each evening, Deputy City Manager Trent Epperson said.
“Metro has to come to us if they want to (operate) more vans,” he said, adding that the city of Pearland will also control changes if the commute schedule conflicts with night or weekend activities at the parking locations. The agreement states that the vanpool vehicles must be back in the parking lots by 7 p.m. If there are to be weekend activities, the vehicles will be moved to free up parking spaces.
The new program features a flat rate instead of the variable rate that current vanpool users pay. The monthly rates are $162 per rider for three people, $144 per rider for four people and $135 per rider for five people.
Anyone over age 25 with a fiveyear driving record in the United States is qualified to operate a van.
Riders will receive a fuel card to pay for gas, toll tags, automotive supplies of up to $25, car washes and parking fees. Metro also will provide customer support and offer emergency ridehome service to program users if the need arises. Program participants use the service on a monthto-month basis and can cancel with a 30-day notice, according to Metro.
Epperson said Metro will manage and promote the program, which comes at no cost or liability to Pearland.
“The vanpools are from Enterprise, and they provide all the insurance,” he said. “(This program) is supplemented through Metro and federal funds.”