March 2008 Update
Commuter Options Celebrates Second Anniversary with 28 van and car pools in service.
 Click here for van pool application (pdf fill-in form) |
The Commuter Options program continues to move ahead providing service to Philadelphians who would have a difficult or impossible commute to a suburban employment. Commuter Options celebrates two years of operations in March of 2008 and is currently operating 28 car and vanpools. We continue to offer our services to all industries in the workplace with quality transportation services. During our second year Commuter Options saw an increase in the manufacturing employment sector. In areas such as Bucks County and Chester County, employers rely heavily on skilled and unskilled workers living in the city. Commuter Options has been working with various skills training programs such as ITTI and New Wave Resources and the National Comprehensive Center for Fathers (NCCF). Commuter Options has made it possible for graduates of these programs to access employment opportunities they would have otherwise had to decline because of transportation barriers. We also have continued to work with EARN Centers that help transition welfare clients into work. Over 50 people from a combination of Philadelphia training facilities and EARN Centers has been placed at McGraw Hill in Delran, New Jersey. Several positions for supervisors, managers, data entry clerks, and positions in shipping and receiving are among the jobs filled from EARN Centers and training programs. Commuter Options is pleased to continue to partner with training programs such as ITTI New Wave Resources, as well as the Jewish Employment and Vocational Services (JEVS) EARN Center and People for People EARN Centers who continue to utilize the vanpool services for their clients. |
Commuter Options Van Pools:
Jobs1USA/Uhaul – 4 vanpools Positions are welders, machinists and general laborers starting pay is $9 to $16 per hour.
- 6 commuters from Kensington and Frankford going to the U-Haul facility in Fairless Hills
- 4 commuters from Frankford and North Philly Park share a van going to work first shift
- 5 commuters from West Philadelphia/North Philadelphia and Frankford working 2nd shift going to Fairless Hills
- 7 commuters from West Philadelphia working 1st shift to Fairless Hills
Synthes – 2 van pools commuting to a Medical manufacturing where jobs pay $12/hr. and up.
- 3 commuters from NE Philadelphia going to East Goshen on first shift
- 5 commuters from NE Philadelphia going to East Goshen on 2nd shift
Quest Diagnostics –4 van and car pools to two locations performing duties at the billing office and data entry (specimen processing) at another facility in Horsham, PA. The wages range from $12.50 to $17.00 per hour.
- 3 commuters from West Philadelphia going to their main center in Horsham, PA
- 3 commuters from West Philly to the Trooper, Road, Norristown location
- 6 commuters from Olney to Trooper Road in Norristown, PA
- 4 commuters from Upper Darby and West Philadelphia to Trooper Road, Norristown5 riders from the Olney section of the city traveling to the Trooper Road in Norristown.
The Hartford – 4 commuters from West Philadelphia going to a 2nd shift call center in Ft. Washington making $12.50 per hour.
United Seed Production – 4 commuters from North Philadelphia going to King of Prussia, PA making between $8.00 and $16.00 per hour
Rite Aid Pharmaceutical – 2 pools of commuters from North Philadelphia making $9.60/hr
- 7 commuters from People for People Ridge Earn Center (welfare-to-work program) in North Philadelphia commute to Fairless Hills.
- 4 commuters from People for People working second shift traveling to Brooks.
Gamesa Wind- 2 vanpools of welders starting at $14.00 and up.
- 5 commuters from North Philadelphia to Fairless Hills, PA
- 4 commuters from Northeast Philadelphia to Fairless Hills
Moyer Packing/Smithfield Meats-
5 commuters from Northeast Philadelphia to this Souderton, PA meat packing facility. The employees are all working first shift with a starting wage of $9.00/hr.
NCO Financial –2 pools from the People for People EARN Center traveling to Glassboro, NJ
1. 5 commuters from North Philadelphia doing customer service at $8.00 to $10.00 per hour.
2. 6 commuters from North Philadelphia doing customer service position starting at $8.00 up to $10 per hour.
Apple One/ McGraw Hill- 7 car and van pools leaving various neighborhoods in Philadelphia going to Delran NJ for employment with a scholastic testing facility. The jobs range from $9.00 to $14.00 per hour and consist of former students of the National Comprehensive Center for Fathers, New Wave Resources, and the KRA, People for People, and JEVs EARN Centers.
- 5 commuters from Frankford and North Philadelphia Area to Delran for 1st shift
- 7 commuters from North Philadelphia/Germantown/Northeast to Delran, NJ to on 1st shift
- 5 commuters from West Philadelphia/Kensington/ North Philadelphia to Delran, NJ on 1st shift
- 6 commuters from West and South Philadelphia area going to Delran, NJ on 2nd shift
- 6 commuters from Germantown/North Philadelphia/Northeast Philadelphia to Delran, NJ on 2nd shift
- 7 commuters from N.E. Philadelphia / Germantown/Kensington going to Delran, NJ on 2nd shift
- 5 commuters from North Philadelphia/West Philadelphia to Delran, NJ on 2nd shift
Sharp Inc - 1van pool of 5 commuters from West Philadelphia going to Conshohocken, PA doing pharmaceutical packing making $9.00 per hour. Some of these riders are from the KRA EARN Center.
HOST Inc. – 1 car pool of 5 commuters traveling from the Northeast to Valley Forge, PA doing food service. Wages start at $8.50 per hour.
Philadelphia Unemployment Project’s Commuter Options 1201 Chestnut St. Room 702 Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-557-0822 www.Philaup.org
MISSION STATEMENT
Philadelphia Unemployment Project Commuter Options offers a solution for commuters needing to go where transit doesn’t. PUP makes available minivans for Delaware Valley commuters who want convenient, safe access to otherwise unreachable jobs.
HOW DO I START A VANPOOL?
It takes at least four commuters (including the driver and backup driver) to start a vanpool. Our minivans seat up to seven commuters.
At least one and preferably two commuters in a pool must be 23 years or older, have a standard, clean (going back three years) Class C driver's license and will drive the minivan and take it home at night. Also, the driver will be responsible for taking the van for routine cleaning and service.
PUP pays for all gas, maintenance, and insurance, and will arrange replacement or emergency transportation for commuters.
Pools can travel almost anywhere within about an hour's radius of Center City. For specific origins and destinations, call Will at 215-557-0822.
All potential commutes will be looked at considering existing transit options, and commuters will be referred to transit routes if they run nearby at convenient times.
If you have enough commuters for a pool and a couple qualified drivers, call Will at PUP today at 215-557-0822 to get started.
HOW DO I GET INTO AN EXISTING VANPOOL?
Click here for van pool application (pdf fill-in form)
Press Coverage
City-to-burbs commuter service grows