MONTGOMERY—Although the U.S. Energy Administration predicts that a gallon of gasoline will increase to nearly $4 this spring and summer, Montgomery-area commuters can find relief by sharing a ride. 

            An online service called CommuteSmart offers a ride-matching feature that brings hopeful carpoolers together. The online database at www.commutesmart.org uses a person’s home address, work address and work hours to match commuters willing to share their ride.

            CommuteSmart Montgomery is administered by the city of Montgomery’s Transportation Planning Department. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs promotes and encourages ride-sharing options such as CommuteSmart as ways to save money, save energy and reduce carbon emissions.

WASHINGTON, DC Tuesday, March 1, 2011- U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $1,314,600 to the Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) Airport to improve airport drainage and rehabilitate the taxiway.

“A strong transportation infrastructure is critical to attracting new businesses and industries,” said Shelby.  “This important grant will help the Mobile Regional Airport make necessary improvements to its terminal building.  These improvements are essential to ensuring that the airport remains an efficient transportation hub for those traveling to, from, and through South Alabama.”

The project will rehabilitate taxiway pavement that has reached the end of its useful life in addition to making improvements to handle stormwater runoff.