Each day more than 683,000 commuters pound the Triad's highways, and nearly 83 percent of them are single-passenger drivers. According to Census Bureau data, fewer than 13 of 100 commuters vanpool or carpool.
For years, the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) has been working hard to change those numbers. While there's still much room for improvement, PART Transportation Demand Program Manager Chantale Wesley says awareness of carpooling's benefits to the environment and the bottom line is growing in the Triad.
Using PART's vanpooling services can save individuals hundreds of dollars each month in gasoline costs alone. PART then picks up the tab for vehicle insurance, maintenance and emergency ride service should a passenger need to get home more quickly. The perks for carpooling and their related cost savings are attracting the attention of a growing number of Triad commuters, businesses and educational institutions.
In 2011, PART had 4,675 participants representing 515 employers, and saving $572,360 in fuel costs. UNCG's recent partnership with Greensboro Transit Authority to provide bus service to students, faculty and staff, saw a 33 percent increase in riders. With fewer cars on campus and more room for parking, the partnership also negated the university's need to construct a costly parking deck. Money saved: $13 million.
