MSA hopes to implement carpooling service

Student Affairs will open contracts for rental car companies to bid on.

By Kaylen Ralph

Published Feb. 19, 2010

The Department of Student Affairs is in the process of opening up contracts for rental car companies to bid on for a new student service they hope to implement on campus in the near future.

The issue of providing rental cars for students to use for errands is one the Missouri Students Association has been talking about since last semester. Some of the staff in the Student Affairs office got the idea for such a program from a conference they attended, Student Auxiliaries Services spokeswoman Michelle Froese said.

"The thing that is appealing to us is that it reduces the carbon footprint because then not everybody needs to bring a car and not all students bring a car," Froese said. "We think from a sustainability point of view it's great, and from a student service standpoint it's incredible."

MSA Senate Speaker Amanda Shelton also said the program could aid in efforts to decrease the number of students who bring cars to campus.

"A car sharing program could allow some students to feel more comfortable leaving their cars at home when they come to Mizzou, which means less stress on parking availability, less congestion and lots of cost savings to students because insurance fees, parking pass fees and maintenance are avoided," Shelton said in an e-mail.

The program is still in the early stages of development, and the next step will be publishing a contract for various car rental companies to bid upon, Froese said.

"The RFP process has to be completed," Froese said. "I believe that it is being reviewed right now. When the request for proposal is made public, companies can apply for the contract."

Because MU is state-funded, there is a strict process for awarding contracts.

"We don't get to pick the company," Froese said. "Companies will submit a proposal based on the RFP. The university then evaluates all of the proposals and awards the bid. This avoids favoritism."

The Office of Parking and Transportation said it would donate four spaces for the cars. The spaces would most likely be located directly outside the student center upon expected completion in January 2011, which is when Froese estimates the rental car program would be ready as well.

"They're putting together their proposal to offer the contract and coordinate the activity through Student Affairs," Parking and Transportation Director Jim Joy said. "I'm agreeing through parking to provide some spaces for the cars to be parked in."

The MSA Campus and Community Relations Committee said the program is one it supports and would benefit students.

"I think this program would be very beneficial and cost-efficient for the students," CCRC Chairwoman Lisa Grelle said. "Whether they needed to drive to the capitol for an internship, drive home for the weekend or just run errands, the students could have access to a car without the hassles and numerous costs of owning a car on campus."

Grelle also said the committee plans on introducing legislation on the issue once they get all the information necessary on how the administration is planning on the acquiring the program. CCRC is planning on collaborating with MSA President Tim Noce on some of the other transportation issues he is working on, Grelle said.

There are certain issues she would like to see addressed, Grelle said.

"Personally, I feel that there should be a tiered pricing system for parking passes," Grelle said. "It is not fair for the student who parks at Hearnes to have to go through the hassle of moving their car for every home football game to have to pay the same amount as students who do not have this hassle."