Agricultural Industries Transportation Services Project

Agricultural Industries Transportation Services Project

August 9, 1999 a tragic accident took the lives of 13 farm workers near Five Points

August 9, 1999 a tragic accident took the lives of 13 farm workers near Five Points

The fact is many farm workers have no vehicle. They

are ….

The fact is many farm workers have no vehicle. They

are ….

• Forced to ride with others

• They often pay exorbitant fees

• Most vehicles are unsafe,under insured and are driven by unqualified drivers.

• Forced to ride with others

• They often pay exorbitant fees

• Most vehicles are unsafe,under insured and are driven by unqualified drivers.

Within 2 months of the Five Points accident, government and transportation officials

began looking for solutions. They …

Within 2 months of the Five Points accident, government and transportation officials

began looking for solutions. They …

• Held hearings

• Hosted forums seeking solutions

• Conducted fact-finding meetings

• Held hearings

• Hosted forums seeking solutions

• Conducted fact-finding meetings

The goal was defined:The goal was defined:• To provide qualified agricultural

workers with affordable vehicles they could use to drive themselves and others to work.

• To provide qualified agricultural workers with affordable vehicles they could use to drive themselves and others to work.

A one-time grant from State and Federal funds was awarded to Kings County Area Public Transit Agency (KCAPTA) to set-up a program and purchase vans.

A one-time grant from State and Federal funds was awarded to Kings County Area Public Transit Agency (KCAPTA) to set-up a program and purchase vans.

April, 2002:AITS was launched

April, 2002:AITS was launched

• 123 new 15-passenger vans were purchased

• 123 new 15-passenger vans were purchased

The program would provide:

The program would provide:

• New 15-passenger vans

• 2M insurance policy on each van

• GPS on each van

• Emergency equipment

• Gas card for driver

• Inspection by Highway Patrol

• New 15-passenger vans

• 2M insurance policy on each van

• GPS on each van

• Emergency equipment

• Gas card for driver

• Inspection by Highway Patrol

Vanpool DriversVanpool Drivers

• Volunteers working in the ag industry

• Have a Class C license

• Pass a Class B physical

• Provide clean DMVdriving record

• Volunteers working in the ag industry

• Have a Class C license

• Pass a Class B physical

• Provide clean DMVdriving record

Vanpool Passengers:Vanpool Passengers:

• Pay a monthly fee based on mileage

• Serves as back up drivers

• Can contact AITS staff with anyconcerns about the program

• Pay a monthly fee based on mileage

• Serves as back up drivers

• Can contact AITS staff with anyconcerns about the program

Rider Payments are used to:

Rider Payments are used to:

• Cover van maintenance

• Fuel costs

• Insurance

• Administrative costs

• Cover van maintenance

• Fuel costs

• Insurance

• Administrative costs

Marketing the AITS program:Marketing the AITS program:

• Direct marketing to employers

• Video and DVD presentations

• Paycheck stuffers

• Newsletter inserts

• Media press conferences

• Direct marketing to employers

• Video and DVD presentations

• Paycheck stuffers

• Newsletter inserts

• Media press conferences

• Paid advertising on radio & television

• AITS personnel set up presentations at swap meets, special events, etc. to reach potential drivers and riders

• Paid advertising on radio & television

• AITS personnel set up presentations at swap meets, special events, etc. to reach potential drivers and riders

The AITS programcost employers nothing but has become a benefit to them.

The AITS programcost employers nothing but has become a benefit to them.

Angela O’BlenisDirector of Human ResourcesParamount Farms

I would recommend the AITS program to other

employers. It’s taken so little of our time and our employees have been so happy with thisprogram.

Angela O’BlenisDirector of Human ResourcesParamount Farms

I would recommend the AITS program to other

employers. It’s taken so little of our time and our employees have been so happy with thisprogram.

Josefina MoraAITS Rider

The AITS program has helped me financially, because it has saved me$100 a month. Besides, Idon’t have to use my car.

Josefina MoraAITS Rider

The AITS program has helped me financially, because it has saved me$100 a month. Besides, Idon’t have to use my car.

Benefits to Participants:Benefits to Participants:

• Safe and reliable transportation for employees

• Increases on time performanceand attendance

• Employees save money ontransportation costs

• Gives employees a new senseof pride and well being

• Safe and reliable transportation for employees

• Increases on time performanceand attendance

• Employees save money ontransportation costs

• Gives employees a new senseof pride and well being

AITS SuccessAITS Success• AITS now operates nearly 100 vans

• Each van carries up to 15 people

• Today the programs operate in 5counties:

Kings CountyTulare CountyFresno CountyMadera Countyand Kern County

• AITS now operates nearly 100 vans

• Each van carries up to 15 people

• Today the programs operate in 5counties:

Kings CountyTulare CountyFresno CountyMadera Countyand Kern County

KCAPTA Introduces

KART Vanpool programprovides vans for

employees of8 correctional facilities

KART Vanpool programprovides vans for

employees of8 correctional facilities

KART Vanpools benefitprison employees

KART Vanpools benefitprison employees

• Prison employees receive a rebate of up to $65/month

• They save on transportation costs plusthe wear & tear on their own vehicles

• Some vans operate 24/7 serving 3 shiftsper day allowing employees the option towork more than one shift

Managing the AITS - KART Vanpool Programs

Managing the AITS - KART Vanpool Programs

Eight full time people handleThe day to day operationsof the vanpool programs

OutsideSupportOutsideSupport• Routine maintenance

and minor repairs are accomplished on site by local dealer

• Routine detailing of vans are performed on location for driver/rider convenience

• Window repair and replacement also performed on site

The people behind the programs

The people behind the programs

• Each program has a transitcoordinator and support staff

• The office staff support the operationsthrough use of a GPS system, radiocommunication with all vans

• Staff can be reached via radio orphone 24/7 if problems arise

The Results …The Results …• Programs operate over 200 vans

• Transports over 2,000 people per month

• Eliminates 240,000 vehicle trips

• Eliminates 38M miles of travel

• Prevents 58 injuries or fatalities

• Saves participants $7,500 ea

• Total indirect savings of 34M per year

What’s Next?What’s Next?• Establish South Valley RideShare

website for the purpose of . . .

What’s Next?What’s Next?• Establish South Valley RideShare

website for the purpose of . . .• Providing networking between drivers

and riders• Promoting ridesharing, vanpooling and

carpooling• Promote public transportation in the 5

county area