December 2006 Update
Commuter Options - Getting city workers to decent jobs in the suburbs
19 Van Pools Now in Service!
 Click here for van pool application (pdf fill-in form) |
The Commuter Options program continues to expand its services to inner city workers traveling to suburban jobs. A project of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, Commuter Options will come close to reaching its target of 20 minivans in service by the end of December. City workers are traveling to companies all over the Philadelphia area in PUPCO minivans, making it possible for them to arrive at good paying jobs that are difficult or impossible to reach by public transportation. PUPCO is reaching out to Philadelphia's welfare-to-work population by working with the city's Earn Centers - the new welfare-to-work programs designed to place welfare recipients into employment. A good recent example is found in the two minivan pools from the Ridge District EARN Center in North Philadelphia which have just begun taking people to Brooks Pharmaceuticals in Fairless Hills, where they fill orders for Eckerd Drug at $9.50 per hour. Without the vans these workers would not be able to get to these decent paying, entry level jobs. Through our outreach and collaborative efforts with other job placement agencies and companies we have nearly reached our target of 20 vanpools serving nearly 100 commuters for 2006. The project will expand to 30 to 40 pools in 2007. Commuters pay $5 to $6 per day round trip for their transportation in Chrysler Grand Caravans. Employers also provide a subsidy for the transportation. Commuter Options pays for gas and auto insurance for the vehicles. The vans are driven by members of the van pool who are workers at the companies. |
Commuter Options Van Pools:
- Schramm Manufacturing - 4 riders (3 from West Philadelphia and 1 from Yeadon) going to drilling rig manufacturing jobs in West Chester. They typically work 10-hour days (and some Saturdays) for about $13 an hour.
- Service Works - 4 riders from West Philadelphia going to $8-an-hour motor home cleaning jobs in Turnersville, NJ. ServiceWorks focuses on hiring workers with barriers to employment, including ex-offenders.
- Synthes - 5 riders from NE Philadelphia going to East Goshen to $12-an-hour (and up) medical manufacturing jobs.
- Medical Risk - 3 riders from West Philadelphia going to $12-an-hour medical billing jobs in King of Prussia. These employees have come through a Welfare-to-Work program where they were trained for these positions.
- AEGON - 3 riders from NE Philadelphia going to an insurance company print shop, making about $12-an-hour.
- The Hartford1 - 5 riders from West Philadelphia going to $12.50-an-hour call center jobs in Ft Washington.
- United Seed Production - 4 riders from North Philadelphia go to King of Prussia, with employees making $8 to $16 per hour
- American Reading Company of King of Prussia- This company is subsidizing the cost of the ride for its employees to absorb the daily fare they would otherwise have to pay. We currently have one van with 5 riders from West Philadelphia going to American Reading. Employees make $10 to $16 per hour.
- Quest Diagnostics Horsham - 5 riders from West Philadelphia. Employees earn $13- $17 per hour.
- Quest Diagnostics Trooper1 - 5 people from the Olney and Mt. Airy area of Philadelphia going to Trooper, PA. The employees make an average of about $13-$17 an hour.
- Quest Diagnostics Trooper2 - 6 people from Kensington and West Philly going to Trooper, PA. The employees make $13-$17 per hour.
- Quest Diagnostics Trooper3 - 6 people from West Philly going to Trooper, PA. The employees make from $13-$17 per hour.
- Quest Diagnostics Trooper4- 6 people travel from Upper Darby and West Philadelphia to Trooper, PA They make $13-$17 per hour.
- Quest Diagnostics Trooper5- 5 employees from the lower Northeast going to Trooper. They also make $13-$17 per hour.
- Brooks Pharmaceuticals- 6 people from Ridge EARN Center (welfare-to-work program) in North Philadelphia commute to Fairless Hills. They package prescription orders for Eckerd Drugs. They are paid $9.50 per hour.
- Brooks Pharmaceuticals - 5 people from North Philadelphia to the same job and also being paid $9.50.
- Strategic Recovery- 5 commuters from North and Northwest Philadelphia travel to a collections job in Horsham making $9 per hour. They do most of their hiring from welfare to work programs.
- RGIS1 5 people from North Philadelphia from the Lehigh EARN Center (welfare to work program) will travel to various suburban locations to do inventory for companies at various suburban locations at the rate of $8 per hour.
- RGIS2 4 more North Philadelphia residents from the Lehigh Earn Center travel to various suburban locations to do inventory.
As new positions open up PUPCO plans to place more city residents into the open seats in vans commuting to the companies being served.
Commuter Options began in March of 2006 with grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Job Access and Reverse Commute program which U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah was instrumental in securing. Matching grants from the Pennsylvania Department’s of Labor and Industry and Public Welfare have also made the program possible
Philadelphia Unemployment Project 1201 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-557-0822
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)
October 2006 Update
June 2006 Update