A new carpool program unveiled last week by the DOTS offers a 25 percent discount on individual parking permit prices for carpoolers in an effort to encourage environmentally friendly commuting.
The Carpool Parking Program, which is designed for faculty, staff and off-campus students, will be accompanied in the spring by a database that will help connect people interested in carpooling. Although there are only a few carpoolers now signed up for permits, officials said they hope the program will take off after the database is finished.
“We’re hoping that when the matching system is available, more people will be interested in carpooling,” said Beverly Malone, assistant to the director of Department of Transportation Services.
The standard student commuter parking permit sells for $128 for one semester or $213 for a year. Officials hope the program’s discount will motivate students to carpool.
“We want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that occur as a result of people doing business on campus,” Malone said. “People who have parking permits now have more options.”
The program, which is open to current permit holders, allows carpool members to park in any of the previously assigned lots. For example, if one member obtained a permit in Lot 6 and the other was assigned to Stadium Drive Garage, the carpool now has the option to park in either lot.
In order to prevent participants from exploiting the system for a discount without actually carpooling, commuters have to exchange all single lot permits for the carpool permit.
Members of the carpool have to designate a captain for the group, who can be changed at any time. The captain is responsible for all citations on the permit.
Besides the discount, there are several advantages to participating in the program, officials said.
Carpoolers can choose to enroll in the Guaranteed Ride Home program, a service provided to all carpoolers free of charge by Commuter Connections, an organization consisting of a number of Washington-area transportation organizations. Commuter
Connections will secure a ride home for registered members up to four times a year if they need to leave in emergency scenarios before the carpool is ready, acting as a safety net for carpoolers.
Each member is also given 10 free daily permits for use when they cannot take the carpool.
The new carpool-matching database is being paid for by Student Government Association funds designated specifically for environmentally friendly initiatives, according to officials.
The carpool permit program is being funded solely by DOTS. It is unclear how much the program will cost in the long run because it is unknown how many people will join, officials said, describing the process as guesswork and speculation.
Although the department loses revenue for every carpool permit issued, officials maintain the program is worth the cost.
“It’s our responsibility as a part of [the Division of] Student Affairs to educate the campus on lowering greenhouse gas emissions,” Malone said, adding there is no financial benefit for the department.
Freshman psychology major Anna Lourie, who already carpools to school several times a week from Silver Spring, was excited to hear about the discount.
“I’d definitely be interested in the program,” Lourie said. “I think the discount is really great. You’re already saving money on gas when you carpool. Plus, driving alone is so boring.”
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