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Uber starting carpool pilot program in Chicago area

Suburban residents working in Chicago could get a lift from a new carpool feature Uber is pioneering here.

The ride-share company today is announcing its debut of an uberCOMMUTE pilot program that will start operating in the Chicago area in the coming days.

The idea is to pair people who live and work in proximity to one other, a blog post on Uber's website said. The program will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays.

Uber is seeking drivers who want to share their trip. People looking for a carpool ride can go to the Uber app and pick uberPOOL, choose the "commuter" option, then enter their start and end points. It's expected trips from the suburbs to Chicago will be popular, although reverse commutes are also anticipated.

"Uber will then pair you up with a fellow commuter on the way to or from work so you can share the cost of the journey," the company stated.

Chicago was chosen because of its congestion. A recent report by the American Highway Users Alliance identified the Kennedy Expressway (I-90) between the Circle Interchange and Edens Expressway as the country's worst bottleneck.

"It's estimated that the average American commuter spends 42 hours a year stuck in traffic," the blog post stated, noting its aim is getting more people "into the back seats of fewer cars."

Pricing is still being worked out but the idea is based on reimbursing drivers instead of making a profit. Rates could be based on the federal per-mile standards of 57.5 cents.

The initiative is similar to the casual car pools used in the San Francisco area and Washington D.C. There, commuters wait at designated spots and drivers post signs indicating their destination, the blog post stated.

The pilot program takes that practice a step further, Uber said. The company will verify carpool driver's licenses and check their driving records. Uber features such as GPS tracking, ETA updates and two-way feedback will be offered.

Carpool drivers will not go through other checks that Uber drivers who provide a taxi-type service do, and customers will be asked to confirm they understand the setup.

For more information, go to https://get.uber.com/p/commute.

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Uber is gearing up for a carpooling initiative in the Chicago area aimed at suburban residents. Daily Herald File Photo
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