Vanpool cuts gas costs by $100 a week
In April, South Side resident Joyce Johnson, who was commuting to work in Palatine, was paying roughly $100 a week for gas.
Fed up with the price at the pump, she decided to partner with several co-workers, who were also feeling gas pains and eager to rein in their fuel costs.
(John H. White/Sun-Times)
The group of U.S. Postal Service workers, who live in the same vicinity, decided to participate in a Pace vanpool program that's saving them big bucks.
Johnson drives the van, a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SE, which is owned by Pace. She picks up her five co-workers at a South Side shopping center and is responsible for transporting them to and from work. They each pay the Pace Suburban Bus service a $125 a month fare. That covers all costs including fuel, insurance, maintenance, tolls, roadside assistance and van washing. As the driver, Johnson doesn't have to pay the fare, and she can drive the van 300 miles a month for personal use.
Pace said the use of the vanpool service has increased since the first of the year, with 680 vans now in use.
"We feel so blessed to be in this program," Johnson said.
"I own a truck; that's what I was driving to and from work, and it was beginning to be overwhelming."
To learn more about using the vanpooling service, call (847) 228-2492.
How are you saving money? Write to psmith@suntimes.com or comment at suntimes.com