Rising gas prices and ongoing road construction are two good reasons for St. Clair County residents who commute to Jefferson or Shelby counties to consider carpooling, local officials were told this week.

“We’re talking every day with people from St. Clair County,” said Lindsey Gray, program director for CommuteSmart, an initiative of the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham.  The program aims to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in the metro area by encouraging commuters to change their driving habits.

A total of 12,875 local residents commute to Jefferson County, and 1,263 drive to Shelby County for work, Gray told members of the St. Clair County Mayors’ Association.  More than 1,300 Jefferson residents and 300 Shelby residents commute to St. Clair, she said, citing numbers from the 2000 Census.

“We have not made a big push outside of Jefferson and Shelby counties yet, but we’re starting with (St. Clair) because there is so much interest in our database,” Gray said.  “This program exists, it could benefit St. Clair County residents, and there is interest here.”

More than 1,200 St. Clair commuters have registered with the CommuteSmart ride matching database, which allows commuters to access a list of individuals who live nearby and work at the same or nearby companies to arrange for carpools.

Through the federally funded program, commuters can earn as much as $120 in incentives for carpooling during their first 90 days of participation.  A minimum of 13 commutes is required, and each day’s carpool must be documented, Gray said.

After the initial 90-day period, commuters can earn quarterly $25 gas cards.

CommuteSmart’s vanpool program could particularly benefit St. Clair residents, according to Gray.  

A vanpool involves five to seven people who travel to work together in a van provided by CommuteSmart, which also pays for insurance and routine maintenance.  Participants share the cost of fuel, which could amount to between $60 and $120 per person per month.

“With a vanpool, you can get to work for a month on what it would cost you to put one tank of gas in your car,” Gray said.  “It reduces wear and tear on your car, and you can enjoy a less stressful commute and save money.”

Between October 2009, and September 2010, it is estimated that vanpooling saved metro commuters a total of 188,825 gallons of fuel costing $489,632. Interest in vanpooling has been expressed in Pell City and Moody, she added.

To register for the program or for more information, visit www.commutesmart.org.