Carpooling & Vanpooling

NJ TRANSIT Boosts Vanpool Subsidy to $400!

Carpooling

Are you looking for a more cost-effective way of getting to and from work or school? Have you tried carpooling?
Cross County Connection provides a free ridematch service to help you find a suitable carpooling partner based on your commute patterns—origin, destination, start and ending times. Depending on the distance traveled and the number of passengers, the savings can add up quickly.

Use NJ Rideshare – a free service that helps people living or working in New Jersey find a better way to get to work. Click on the NJ Rideshare graphic below to sign up! You can also contact our office by phone at (856) 596-8228 or email ccctma@driveless.com.

If a match is found, you will be notified via telephone and will be mailed a list of names and contact information of commuters who share similar schedules. Once you receive the match report, simply call or email the people on the list to make arrangements.

Vanpooling 

Join a vanpool and share the expense and the drive.  Cross County Connection is the authorized New Jersey Department of Transportation vanpool matching provider in southern New Jersey.  Cross County Connection works closely with employers and commuters to set up vanpools.

What is a Vanpool?

Vanpools are a formal arrangement among a larger number of people than carpools.  They work well for commutes greater than 40-50 miles round trip. Vanpools are usually created for 7 to 15 people, each of whom have a guaranteed seat and share costs. Cost savings increase with a greater number of participants.  The vanpool driver usually rides for free as it is his/her responsibility to administer the vanpool and care for the vehicle.

Types of Vanpools

Most vanpool groups are known as third party vanpools.  In this arrangement:
  • Vehicles are owned by a for-profit vendor who leases the vehicle, on a monthly basis, to the vanpool group
  • The vendor covers vehicle maintenance, insurance and administration of the vanpool
  • Vanpool members are responsible for collecting monthly fees and determining the vanpool route and stops. 
There are also employers sponsored vanpools, which are the least expensive vanpooling option.
  • Employers purchase or lease the vans and arrange for maintenance, insurance and administration
  • Participation is usually limited to employers of one company

NJ TRANSIT Vanpool Sponsorship Program

NJ TRANSIT has announced a significant increase in its monthly vanpool subsidy—from $175 to $400 per month for all eligible vanpools, effective January 2026. This new higher subsidy replaces the previous two-tier arrangement, which included a separate incentive for vanpools using High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. Moving forward, there will be a single, more generous subsidy rate, allowing commuting groups to save substantially more each month.

Subsidies are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and all vanpools must apply to participate. Currently, 68 vanpools benefit from NJ TRANSIT’s program. The increased funding will cover up to 83 vanpools, with additional applicants placed on a waiting list until more funds become available.

How the Program Works
To qualify, commuters must lease a van through an approved NJ TRANSIT provider. After leasing, riders share expenses such as lease payments, fuel, tolls, and parking—significantly reducing individual costs. Vanpools succeed when participants coordinate effectively:
• Agree on fair cost-sharing arrangements.
• Establish routes and pickup schedules that suit everyone.
• Keep contact information updated for emergencies or delays.
• Designate a backup driver to ensure smooth operation during vacations or absences.

Cross County Connection processes applications and other paperwork to assist vanpool groups with getting enrolled in this program. In south Jersey, a vanpool group must lease their vehicle from Enterprise Rideshare, a third-party vanpool vendor, to be eligible for the Vanpool Sponsorship Program.

To enroll in the Vanpool Sponsorship Program or learn more, please contact Cross County Connection at (856) 596-8228 or via email at sheldon@driveless.com.