Enterprise Rideshare Helps Ease Traffic Congestion in Honolulu

Enterprise Rideshare, which launched in Hawaii last year, is partnering with the City and County of Honolulu to help reduce local traffic congestion and carbon emissions through Oahu Vanpool Incentive Program (OVIP).

Enterprise Rideshare is a service of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The vanpooling service enables people with similar commuting routes to share a vehicle and save time and money on their daily travel, according to Enterprise.

The partnership — in coordination with the State Department of Transportation — is supported by $1 million from the Hawaii State Legislature. The funds provide $250 per vanpool each month to be split among riders as an incentive to try vanpooling. With a goal of 150 vanpools of seven people, the program aims to get 1,050 commuters out of single-occupancy vehicles.

The vanpools — open to anyone living or working in Oahu — feature new models of crossovers, SUVs, minivans and large passenger vans, and include the monthly cost of gas, insurance, and maintenance, according to Enterprise.

“Vanpool drivers get to use the vans for their personal use,” said Sen. Michelle Kidani, who backed the bill to fund the program. “In turn, they are responsible for keeping the vans fueled, picking up their fellow vanpoolers on time, and getting them to their destinations safely.”

Enterprise estimates that — based on an average commute of 50 miles per day — vanpools can save an individual rider up to $10,000 per year, when considering insurance, gas, vehicle maintenance costs, and depreciation.

“Enterprise Rideshare has more than 20 years of experience operating vanpool programs across the U.S. and offers an unparalleled level of fleet flexibility and local service,” said Chris Sbarbaro, vice president for Enterprise in Hawaii. “With an industry-leading selection of vehicles and deep expertise in customizable vanpool programs, we’re well equipped to handle the transportation needs of the Oahu Vanpool Incentive Program.”