About TU


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 term and offered a guaranteed ride home when an emergency or last-minute schedule change leaves them without transportation.

Eligibility and Requirements

The Carpool program is designed to allow 2 or more individuals who are driving to campus together at the same time to associate a single permit with multiple vehicles. If the individuals are routinely driving their vehicles separately even at different times or on different days, you may not participate in the Carpool program. Participants who are not riding together and drive multiple vehicles to campus are subject to a $300 fine and other sanctions for sharing a 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.

  • Go to www.commuterconnections.org

  • Click the SIGN UP button at the top right of the home page.

  • Create a New User Account.

  • Click on the Join Ridesharing link.

  • Follow prompts to find a ridematch.
  • 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 allows 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 $.59 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

$8,946

$4,473

Total Annual Cost

$9,249

$4,624

 

The above example is based on $.59 per mile. Average 2012 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 $.76 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

Did you know
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Carpooling has many benefits:

• Financial savings of nearly $2,000 a year.

• A more convenient, less stressful commute

• Less carbon emissions

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Map

Emergencies
410-704-4444

University Police
410-704-2134

Closings & News
410-704-NEWS (6397)

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