Cheap, easy way to commute
Cheaper than driving alone and sometimes more convenient than taking a train or bus, carpooling is another option for getting around while the Dan Ryan Expy. is under construction.
On average, it costs about $1,800 a year to fuel and maintain a passenger car at 2005 gas prices, according to AAA. Those extra minutes idling on the Dan Ryan are sure to add to the expense of being a single commuter.
At www.sharethedrive.org, Chicago-area commuters can search for would-be carpoolers who live or work close to them. The site, run by the Chicago Area Transportation Study, also allows users to specify gender, language and smoking preferences.
Since the site was launched two years ago, about 4,000 people have registered, said Jose Rodriguez, coordinator for the CATS rideshare program. At any given time, there are usually 600 participants in the program, but Rodriguez expects to see an increase over the next few weeks.
Pace, meanwhile, operates the second-largest vanpool service in the country.
Riders pay a monthly fee based on the distance traveled and the number of passengers in the van. The driver doesn't pay.
The vans can be driven "anywhere as long as one end of the route is in the RTA transit system," Pace spokeswoman Judi Kulm said.
Some companies also provide vanpool services for their employees, either to a designated spot or to CTA and Metra stations.
For more information, visit www.pacebus.com.