ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

                                           Date: October 3, 1995
                                           File # H-951

   TO:       Vancouver City Council

   FROM:     General Manager of Engineering Services

   SUBJECT:  Pilot Vanpool Program


   RECOMMENDATION

        A.   THAT Council approve a pilot vanpool program using an existing
             passenger van, Number A1972, of the Engineering Department  as
             described in this report.

        B.   THAT the  pilot vanpool program, if approved,  be reviewed and
             reported back to Council in 12 months.


   COUNCIL POLICY

   On July 30, 1991, Council approved  a vanpool program in principle, with
   vans to be provided  through replacement of existing fleet  vehicles and
   extra costs to be recovered from users. 


   PURPOSE

   The  purpose of  this report  is to  obtain Council  approval to  use an
   Engineering Department passenger van for the pilot vanpool program.


   BACKGROUND

   On July 30, 1991, Council considered a Policy Report (Traffic & Transit)
   in which the  General Manager  of Engineering Services  reported on  the
   City's carpool/vanpool program and provided information on other related
   initiatives.  In an effort to reduce single occupancy vehicles and their
   exhaust emissions in  the City,  Council approved a  vanpool program  in
   principle.

   Subsequent to this approval, Engineering staff conducted a questionnaire
   survey in 1991 to  promote and to identify interest levels and potential
   user  groups to  start up  a vanpool  program.   Thirty to  40 employees
   expressed  interest in such  a program  at that  time, but  a sufficient
   concentration to form a vanpool could not be formed.




   DISCUSSION

   Recently, a  group of six employees  at City Hall has  been assembled to
   form  a  vanpool.   Rather  than  seeking  a  new  vehicle,  staff  have
   identified a 1991 Ford Aerostar Minivan, Number A1972, from the existing
   Engineering fleet which would be suitable and immediately  available for
   such use.  The total user cost has been calculated at $65 per month, per
   person. See Appendix A for details.

   The vanpool users have  signed an agreement which states  the conditions


   of  using vehicle #A1972 for vanpooling.  See Appendix B for details.  A
   back-up  vehicle has  been  identified  and  made  available  to  ensure
   uninterrupted service for the users during vehicle maintenance periods.

   The vanpool will operate daily from White Rock, and will be able to take
   advantage of  High  Occupancy  Vehicle  (HOV)  lanes  and  queue-jumping
   arrangements on Highway 99 near the George Massey Tunnel.


   FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

   The additional insurance, fuel, maintenance and accelerated depreciation
   costs of approximately $4,680 per year will be paid  by the users of the
   vanpool. See Appendix A for details.


   CONCLUSION

   The  provision of  the selected  City-owned passenger  van to  the pilot
   vanpool program is recommended  from an environmental perspective.   The
   recommendation is also supportive  of the Transport 2021 plan  to reduce
   the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road.


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