Carpooling is sharing a ride with at least one other person. Carpoolers can be drivers offering a ride to another person, or riders receiving a ride.

To carpool, you simply need to find a ride partner. Do you have a family member, friend, or co-worker who is coming and going from a similar location? If not, you can sign-up for a ride-matching service. A number of private enterprises are available. One public enterprise offered by the Maine Turnpike Authority and the Maine DOT is GoMaine, a free service.

Remember that you are in charge of your own safety. Don’t get in a car with someone or pick them up if you feel they are potentially unsafe. 

Carpool Policy

The University’s carpooling policy is here. Please note that the policy was updated in the fall of 2024. The old “hang tag” plastic passes are no longer accepted in this program. The new passes are printed QR codes. See the registration section below for how to acquire these codes.

Premium Parking Spaces & How to Register for Them

There are 47 preferred carpool parking spaces spread throughout the Portland and Gorham campuses in convenient locations. To take advantage of these convenient parking spaces, take note of the following:

  • To acquire a carpool pass, you need to add the carpool parking privilege to your parking permit. Your parking permit then becomes your carpool pass.
  • Register through the Park Engage permit system (The same system you use to buy your regular motor vehicle parking permit).
  • Detailed instructions on how to register and how to print your pass can be viewed here.
  • Only vehicles with two or more students, faculty, or staff may park in these spaces. Non-University affiliated people may carpool in the same vehicle, but do not count toward the two-person minimum.
  • Two paper copies of current valid Carpool Pass Parking Permits need to be displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard to avoid citation. These passes are the same as your Motor Vehicle Permit once you have registered for the Carpool Pass in the Park Engage permit system.
  • The two Carpool Passes must belong to two different people.
  • There are two types of Carpool Passes and both have to be obtained from the Park Engage permit system.
  • One type of pass is a Carpool Pass associated with a vehicle that is registered to park at the University of Southern Maine. This is for people who want to carpool in their vehicle, at least some of the time (it doesn’t mean they have to ride in their vehicle every time they carpool; they can also bring their pass with them when carpooling in another registered carpooler’s vehicle). To acquire this pass, select “Carpool Pass” under “Permit Services” when registering for your normal annual parking permit. If you already registered for your annual permit, you may still get a carpool pass by logging into your Park Engage account, going to the Permit Account tab and toggling “Carpool Access” to on. There is no charge for this pass beyond the normal price for your permit.
  • A second type of pass is a Rider-Only Carpool Pass. This is for people who want to carpool, but don’t have a personal vehicle or don’t want to bring their vehicle to campus. To acquire this pass, create an account with Park Engage, and select “Carpool Rider Only” under “Permit Type.” There is no charge for this pass for a rider only.
  • Regardless of which type of Carpool Pass one has, they must be printed with their QR code and displayed in the vehicle. They can either be printed from the confirmation email you receive or by going to your dashboard in Park Engage, selecting the Permit Account tab on the left, and selecting the Download QR option on the right.
  • Carpool parking spaces are located on the Portland campus in the Payson Lot, the Masterton Lot, 120 Bedford Street, Sullivan Gym and two locations on the first floor of the commuter parking garage (a row between the exit/entrance) and part of the back row along 295 (During construction of the CFA building in academic year 2025, the Payson Lot space will be unavailable). Carpool parking spaces on the Gorham campus are located by John Mitchell Center.

Environmental Benefits

Every time you carpool, you reduce your greenhouse gas emissions for that trip by half. Every time a third person joins, emissions are cut to a third, and so on. It is one of the easiest ways to slash emissions. These efforts help USM toward its goal of becoming a carbon neutral campus by the year 2040.

Additional benefits include less run-off pollution along roadways and less wear for roadways and vehicles, which translates into less embodied energy and pollution in the supply chain.

Social Benefits

Carpooling saves you money on gas, maintenance, car insurance, and parking. If you use GoMaine, you can also earn points which can be redeemed for tickets to drawings for prizes.

Carpooling also provides you the opportunity to meet new people, share interesting conversations, and get exposed to new music.

* Please note the information presented on this site is for information purposes only. While the University of Southern Maine supports and encourages sharing information specific to sustainability and parking, we make no guarantees regarding the quality of service or experience.