The university has partnered with VPSI Inc., a vanpool service provider, to offer a way to help employees with the costs associated with commuting to and from campus.
Jesse Kafka, the business development executive of VPSI, said the program works with groups of at least five people willing to commute together on a regular basis. Other universities nationwide, including University of California at Irvine, University of Pittsburgh and University of Michigan have developed similar programs.
Kafka said people using the service pay a monthly fee and WPSI provides the vehicle, maintenance, insurance and repairs. A primary driver starts the van then picks up others at an assigned meeting spot with possibly one or two additional stops along the way.
Adam Milavsky, head of the vanpool program, said the program is one of the many green and sustainable initiatives the university is pursuing.
"It is a way the university can help employees save money getting to and from campus," Milavsky said.
The university will also subsidize the parking and vanpool costs for participating employees.
This is not a new concept among commuters, Kafka said.
"Vanpooling was developed in the late 1970s by Chrysler employees during the gas crisis," Kafka said. "The model was replicated and turned into a successful business."
According to a UDaily press release about the program and its financial and environmental benefits, VPSI estimates vanpooling can eliminate 14 million commuting trips, conserve 26 gallons of fuel and prevent a quarter of a million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere.
Preliminary estimates show the average commuter could save up to several hundred dollars per month based on the commuter calculator that VPSI uses on its Web site.
Following the dramatic increase in gas prices over the summer, VPSI became a valuable tool to many individuals trying to stay within their budgets, Kafka said.
"We experienced a huge increase in demand over the summer due to gas prices," he said. "It has since leveled off a bit. However, we are anticipating some increase again with further tightening budgets."
The university is targeting areas with high concentrations of employees.
"Right now we are targeting Wilmington, Philadelphia, Middletown and possibly Dover," Milavsky said.
Kafka said the university has held several interest meetings and the program will begin as soon as a group is ready to begin.
Faculty interest in the program has been minimal so far with a group potentially forming in Middletown.
"We are targeting employees who live in the Middletown area," Milavsky said. "However, people are reluctant to give up their independence associated with driving their own car to and from campus."
Lindsay Hoffman, professor of communication, recently moved out of the Newark area into rural Pennsylvania, significantly increasing her commute to and from work.
"I did a search for a similar program over the summer, though I could not find any university employees to commute in the same area," she said.
Matthew Weinert, professor of political science and international relations, also heard about the program through an e-mail to all faculty and staff. With a nearly 35-mile roundtrip commute each day, Weinert already participates in a carpool with two other individuals.
"I don't have to fill up my own car quite as often," he said. "But the key with a successful carpool is finding people whose schedules mesh well together."
Hoffman said she agrees with the scheduling issues.
"Schedules for professors can be too variable to make such a program real useful on a regular basis," she said. "For example, I tend to combine trips while on campus, like going grocery shopping and doing other things before or after work."
The recent economic downturn is forcing many individuals to reshape their budgets and determine what is most important. Eventually, everyone adjusts to the new pricing standards of consumer goods, Hoffman said.
"Everyone is more open to conversations about thinking of new ways to cut costs to save money," she said. "When gas prices jumped significantly in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina the $3 level was a shock, but people figured out other ways to cut their budgets."
Recently, though, consumers are seeing significant drops in gas prices due to the economic downturn, Weinert said.
"With prices hovering back near $2 a gallon, people are going back to their old habits," he said.
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