PHILADELPHIA -- As part of its citywide Fleet Reduction Project, the administration of Mayor John Street is taking further steps to significantly reduce the number of vehicles provided to city employees. Specifically, city officials said that Philadelphia is partnering with PhillyCarShare — a local vehicle-sharing provider — to provide transportation to those employees who do not have personal means by which to travel. Phase one of the program has already commenced, with 50 city vehicles recently eliminated and auctioned to the public. "The concrete results of the project will be a smaller, more efficient and effective fleet," City Managing Director Phil Goldsmith said in a city press release. "Take-home vehicles, administrative sedans, SUVs, and underused operational vehicles are being taken out of the fleet." Goldsmith highlighted the program as having "a dual purpose in lowering costs and freeing up mechanics to work on priority matters," as well as aiding the environment through decreased exhaust pollution. The city currently operates about 6,500 non-police cars. Under the Fleet Reduction Project, the Street administration hopes to eliminate 400 of these vehicles, freeing thousands of dollars to supplement parking, auto parts and maintenance of the others. Through the partnership with PhillyCarShare, city employees will have constant access to the organization's fleet of wagons and hybrid gas-electric sedans. According to Goldsmith, Philadelphia is the first city in the United States to institute a governmental car share program.