Nov 1, 2008 12:08 am US/Eastern
Officials Have New Plan To Ease Baltimore Traffic
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Baltimore officials are discussing a plan to create a non-profit car share service designed to cut congestion in and around the city.
It's an effort to reduce the number of cars on city streets. Baltimore officials are discussing a plan to create a non-profit car share service designed to cut congestion in and around the city.
Tim Williams has more on the proposed Baltimore car share.
It's no secret that Baltimore City streets can become congested at times, so city transportation planners are working to cut the number of cars on Baltimore's roadways.
"It'd be great. I'd save a lot of money--lots of money with insurance, parking. I live right around the street and with parking, it can be a nightmare," said Glen Breining.
It could go from a nightmare to a dream if a nonprofit car share program being tested gets the green light.
It would be called Baltimore Car Share. A similar for-profit system called Zip Car was put in place on the campus of Goucher College this summer. The service gives card key access to the cars 24 hours a day to anyone who reserves one. Cleaning and maintenance are taken care of by the college.
"When the car gets to a quarter full, the student driving the car at the time takes it and gets it filled with the Zip Car credit card and then puts it back in its place," said Therese Neal.
In the city's case, membership fees and grants would cover expenses.
On the Avenue in Hampden, residents and visitors say saving dough is the common ground.
Djamila El-Frih used a similar system in San Francisco.
"It's nice to just come, take the train down and just rent the car for around the city and take back the train. It's much cheaper, too," El-Frih said.
City planners say if a test version of the program goes well, the service could be available to the public by the end of March.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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