PARKING
AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
Carpooling
Towson University's carpooling program provides incentives to commuter students, faculty and staff who carpool to the university. Individuals who carpool are given four daily parking passes per semester and offered a guaranteed ride home when an emergency or last-minute schedule change leaves them without transportation.
Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible for the program, two or more individuals must carpool together, sharing one parking permit (members can register more than one vehicle for the permit). The individuals should complete and submit a carpool program application form that contains information on each individual in the carpool, and each vehicle that will be used in the carpool. The application should be signed by each member of the carpool and returned to the Parking and Transportation Services Office. For additional information on the Carpool program, see the Carpool FAQs. An application must be submitted each academic year to continue in the program.
Commuter Connections
The Commuter Connections carpooling database is available for those who need to find a carpool match. The database enables you to search through a database of thousands of travelers in the metropolitan area to find individuals traveling to and from similar locations. You are able to contact suitable matches to set up carpools or vanpools, saving you money and reducing your carbon emissions.
Follow the steps below to find a ride through commuter connections.
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Go to www.commuterconnections.org
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Click the SIGN UP button at the top right of the home page.
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Create a New User Account.
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Click on the Join Ridesharing link.
- Follow prompts to find a ridematch.
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You will be able to send an instant email to your match. Your personal information is confidential until you choose to communicate with the potential ride match. If you are not comfortable meeting at your home, plan to meet at a public location. There are also park-and-ride lots throughout the central Maryland region that can serve as a meeting point.
Savings
Carpooling enables you to save money associated with gas, parking permits and wear and tear on your car while simultaneously enabling you to help the environment. The savings below were calculated based on $.54 per mile, including fuel, insurance, depreciation and maintenance.
Example of cost savings
| |
Individual Cost
|
Two Person Carpool
|
Avg. Annual Permit Cost |
$303 |
$151.50 |
Avg. Annual Driving Cost |
$8,095 |
$4,047 |
Total Annual Cost |
$8,345 |
$4,172 |
The above example is based on $.54 per mile. Average 2009 cost per mile for automobile operation as estimated by AAA includes fuel, insurance, depreciation, and maintenance for a vehicle traveling 15,000 miles per year. Cost per mile varied from $.45 to $.71 per mile depending on the size of the vehicle.
Parking and Transportation Services
Union Garage
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
410-704-PARK (7275) Parking, Events, Shuttle and Charter Bus Information
410-704-RIDE (7433) Para-Transit Services and Requests
Fax: 410-704-3370
E-mail: upark@towson.edu
Administration and Finance Questions
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