Enterprise Rideshare, a service of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, is now the preferred vanpool provider of Valley Regional Transit (VRT).

The partnership will expand vanpool opportunities throughout Southwest Idaho, giving rural commuters a transportation alternative in an area where mass transit is limited, according to Enterprise.

The partnership between Enterprise Rideshare and VRT is a component of VRT’s CanyonRide Commuter Van program.

“In rural communities, people often live a considerable distance from where they work, which makes the cost of commuting more expensive,” said Kelli Fairless, VRT’s executive director. “Our partnership with Enterprise Rideshare will make the development of vanpool services easy, scalable, and affordable for local employers so they can offer one of the most cost-effective transportation alternatives as an added benefit to their employees.”

Enterprise will facilitate the development of vanpool programs, enabling groups of five or more people with similar commuting routes to share a vehicle and save time and money on their daily travel, according to the company.

For as little as $850 per month, each vanpool receives a vehicle from Enterprise to get to and from work.

Enterprise manages service and maintenance for the vehicles and provides 24-hour roadside assistance. Vanpoolers also have access to Enterprise’s Guaranteed Ride Home program, which ensures they can leave work at unscheduled times worry-free, according to the company.

As an added incentive, VRT is crediting $200 per month for up to 15 vehicles during the first year of service, bringing the monthly cost down to as little as $650 per vanpool. By the end of the pilot year, Enterprise Rideshare and VRT aim to successfully establish 12 vanpools in Canyon County.