The Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association (BATMA) works with partners in Buckhead, Georgia to improve mobility and air quality by encouraging commuting via transit, carpooling, vanpooling, teleworking, biking and walking. Over 60 businesses and 20 property managers participate. BATMA provides incentives like cash rewards and gas cards for commuters who log alternative trips on their website. They also help subsidize vanpool fares and provide guaranteed ride home in case of emergencies for those using alternative transportation. Employers can offer tax-free commuter benefits for transit and vanpooling of up to $230 per month through the federal Commuter Choice program.

2. BATMA
The Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association (BATMA)
works cooperatively with community partners to improve mobility,
accessibility and air quality in Buckhead by sponsoring programs and
providing incentives to encourage commuters to take transit, carpool,
vanpool, telework, bike and walk to work.
Over 60 businesses
Over 20 property management firms
Over 3,000 commuters

3. What seems like an The equivalent of:
endless stream of cars Is only 88 people 2 Carpools
in this photo … 1 Vanpool
1 Xpress bus

4. What Exactly is a Vanpool?
Vanpool (văn'pūl') –
Function: noun
Date: 1973
: an arrangement by which a group of 7 -15
people commute to work in a van leased by
a 3rd party vendor which operate like mini-
transit services & run on a set schedule

5. 3rd Party Provider?
Enterprise VPSI – Metro Vanpool
• Founded in 1957 • Operating since 1977
• One of the largest • Over 50 metropolitan
privately held locations across the
companies in North country
America • Largest private
• Customer satisfaction provider commuter
oriented vanpools in the world

6. Vanpool
• Vanpools have a
flat monthly rate
depending on the
daily round trip
mileage
• Fare Tiers
– 0 – 60 miles
– 61 – 90 miles
– 91+ miles

7. Vanpool
• 15 passenger vans
require a minimum of
10 paying riders
• Volunteer Primary
Drivers receive a
100% seat subsidy
Have a monthly fare of: $75 $90 $100
The price includes gas, insurance and maintenance and is based on 10 paying riders

8. Vanpool
• 7 passenger vans
require 7 paying
participants
• Minivans have a
higher monthly rate
to keep the same
subsidy
Have a monthly fare of: $105 $120 $130
The price includes gas, insurance and maintenance and is based on 7 paying riders

9. Vanpool Program Funding
• Vanpool fares are significantly subsidized to help buy
down the per seat cost
• In many cases, without these subsidies the price
would nearly double
• Three organizations contribute to each vanpool
• Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA)
• Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID)
• BATMA BATMA,
$101,115 Wellpoint, CAC,
$5,134 $3,400
BCID, $36,217
GRTA,
Riders,
$134,400
$200,826
Vanpool Funding Sources

10. Incentives
First Timers •Cash for Commuters
• Carpoolers, Vanpoolers, Walkers, Bikers, Teleworkers and Transit
$3/Day Users
• Earn $3/day up to $100. Log on batma.org to track commute
Occasional Users • Commuter Rewards
• Log your commute on batma.org and get put in drawing to win $25
$25/Month Drawing Visa Gift Card
• The more you log, the more you win. 1/10 chance to win
•Carpool
Extreme Users • Carpoolers automatically receive $20, 40, and $60 gas cards
• Log at least 30 trips (15 round trips) on batma.org
$20, $40, $60/Month
Vanpool Subsidies
• Vanpool Subsidy
$75, $90, $100 • Covers half of expenses. Full cost can be $200 or more
• Includes van and maintenance costs
Flat Fare/Month
• Guaranteed Ride Home provides commuters who carpool, vanpool, bike or use transit
with a reliable ride home if an unexpected event occurs up to 5 trips home or to their car
each year
• Provided by the division of the Atlanta Regional Commission
Federal funding for the GRH program is provided through the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

11. Commuter Choice
• Commuter Benefits have tax advantages because they are not
subject to Federal Income and
payroll taxes. This is not a federal
tax credit.
• Under the tax code employers can
offer qualified transportation fringe
benefits in three ways:
– Employers can cover the cost of
the tax-free transportation fringe
benefit
– Employers can allow employees to reserve income on a pre-
tax basis to cover the cost
– Employers can share the cost with employees
• Employees can participate in commuter benefits programs only
if the programs are offered by their employer.

12. Types of Qualified Commuter Benefits
Transit passes – up to $230 Vanpool fares – up to $230
Bike expenses – up to $20 Qualified Parking – up to $230

13. Employer Services
Transportation Plans
• Provide you with planning materials for
employees and prospective candidates
• Conduct on-site events: Lunch and
Learns, Break room displays, meet
your match events, etc.
Free Telework Consulting
• Help starting or expanding a telework
program with free consulting from a
nationally recognized consultant with
over 25 years experience
Free Commuter Choice Consulting
• Federal Tax Code allows employers to provide tax-free transit and vanpool benefits for
their employees up to $230 a month
• Tax incentive programs can have a positive impact on your payroll tax liability
• An organization of any size is eligible

14. Alternative commute options…
• Carpool
• Vanpool
• Transit
• Telework
• Alternative Work
Schedules
• Bike
• Walk