High-Tech Carpooling Helping Commuters Save Money

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's not a new concept, but carpooling is becoming more popular and now it's going high tech.

There's a website now that matches up drivers throughout all of western Pennsylvania with others looking to save on gas and parking costs.

With gas prices still around the $4 mark and construction season kicking into high gear, more people are looking into vanpooling.

It's something that Carla Koleny has been doing it for 25 years.

"We pay $110 for our van pool, and even though the price went up because of the gas prices, you couldn't get parking in the city for a month for that," said Koleny, of Leechburg.

CommuteInfo handles local carpools by matching up riders who work in nearby places with similar hours.

"When I send this information, what happens? CommuteInfo takes your information, and we match it up with anyone who voluntarily provides their information, and we shoot you a match," says the website's Bob Villella.

Savings over the last year are substantial.

"They saved over a million dollars," said Lisa Kay Schweyer, of CommuteInfo. "We have 1,000 people carpooling or vanpooling, which means they saved about $1,000 a piece."

CommuteInfo matches up local bikers too. In fact, Friday is National Bike to Work Day. For Bob Straw, of Aspinwall, that's about every day.

"It's roughly $100 a month," says Straw of the savings. "That's conservatively speaking, or taking transit, saves that much at minimum."

And with every car off of the roads at rush hour, it's a smoother ride for all.

"We have people registered who work all different shifts, weekends, and the beauty part is you just have to find one person and we can make a connection," said Schweyer.

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