Motorists hopping aboard the van pool

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Jul 7, 2008 at 9:46 AM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 7, 2008 at 9:46 AM MDT

MISSOULA - Five days a week, Corina Horstman catches a round-trip commuter van from her home in Ronan to her job in Missoula. She spends about $108 for a monthly van pass instead of $320 to fill up her Dodge Neon to drive to her job as an administrative assistant at the University of Montana.

With escalating gas prices, people are examining alternatives to driving their cars alone. Some employers, such as The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, offer a free commuter shuttle for employees in the Missoula area. Horstman and others catch one of 12 commuter vans organized by the nonprofit Missoula Ravalli Transportation Management Association.

Several employers, including GlaxoSmithKline in Hamilton, Smurfit Stone Container Corp. in Frenchtown and the University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station in Yellow Bay run free or subsidized commuter vans using the nonprofit's fleet.

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