Van Pool Broadens Transportation Options

Bringing public transportation to rural communities is no simple task, but by getting creative and using local resources, the Door County Transportation Consortium and its partners are gaining traction.

The latest addition to the patchwork is the Door County employment van pool, run by the Women’s Employment Project’s Door County Transportation Options Program.

The “Van Pool to Work” began April 14, shuttling six riders from Sturgeon Bay to work at Scandia Village Good Samaritan in Sister Bay. The van leaves Sturgeon Bay at about 4:45 am to get the workers to work in time for their 6 am shift, and leaves Sister Bay to return to Sturgeon Bay at 2:30 pm. The van runs seven days a week but must have a minimum of three riders daily.

Fares are $20 per week for five days of round trip transportation, but riders within 200 percent of federal poverty limits are eligible to apply for a discount.

Program coordinator Kim McLure said the times and options are just a start. She’s working to see what can be worked out with other employers and find other transportation needs. The van, leased and maintained by Fred Young of Young Automotive, can carry 15 riders. Young has provided a local match to the pool each month.

The idea sprouted from consortium discussions, and Women’s Employment Project (WEP) took on the project and brought it to fruition with grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The van pool is funded through 2009 with plans to expand next year.

Pam Busch of the consortium said the program should help broaden job-hunting and expand the employee base for businesses. “It’s good for employers and good for the environment.”

When driving a personal vehicle, a 30-mile, one-way commute costs $35.10 per day or $8,775 per year per driver, so the van pool currently saves a rider $7,735 annually. With 10 riders in the van five days a week, the pool helps put $77,350 back into Door County’s economy and reduce daily vehicle emissions polluting the county’s air.

WEP also offers a Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) membership to van pool riders or residents who car pool. For $25 per year, a GRH member can receive up to two emergency rides home per year.

To learn more about the Van Pool Program and find out how to contribute or volunteer, contact Kim McClure at 920.743.6915 ext 110 or visit the Door County Job Center, 1300 Egg Harbor Road, Suite 124 in the Cherry Point Mall, Sturgeon Bay.