Amador County – The Amador Air District Board of Directors last week heard an upbeat update from Rene Chapman of Foothill Rideshare, who said due to increased interest, the program needs a van for its Vanpools. The program operates on a $10,000-dollar DMV Fee Grant it received through the Air District last August, to establish the Vanpools, or carpools with vans, to serve Amador County commuters. Chapman said “Foothill Rideshare is going strong, and it had a real jump when gas prices skyrocketed.” She said the program has had 2 or 3 people sign up per month since the beginning of the year. The Rideshare database had 230 people in it this time last year, she said, and it now has 500 individuals signed up. She said Rideshare sign-ups takes names, leaving points and destinations, which go into the database and “cluster people to form van pools.” She said the program is structured to cover 5 vanpools. If the budget warrants it, it can be cut down to 2 vanpools. She said the program does not yet have an operating vanpool, but is nearing the number of sign-ups to have a “cluster” of riders big enough to create a vanpool route. She said the county has a “need to reduce our vehicle miles traveled as a county, as an area,” due to air quality. She said Rideshare does not own a van for its vanpool. Board Chairman, Supervisor Ted Novelli asked what type of van Rideshare sought: a 12-, 15-, or 18- seater. Chapman said it needed to carry at least 6 riders, the number needed to get a vanpool going. She said Rideshare matches usually have 5 or 6 people in a “cluster,” up from 2 or 3 people in the clusters last year. The vanpool groups contain only people interested in riding in a vanpool, and she said there is enough people to get a van for the program. But she said, after talking to Enterprise Rent-a-Car, “it’s not going to be cost-effective to lease a van.” Novelli asked her to come back with some costs on the purchase of a used van, in 2 months. The Air District Board next meets 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28th, in the supervisor chambers, as its March meeting was canceled. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – The Amador Air District Board of Directors last week heard an upbeat update from Rene Chapman of Foothill Rideshare, who said due to increased interest, the program needs a van for its Vanpools. The program operates on a $10,000-dollar DMV Fee Grant it received through the Air District last August, to establish the Vanpools, or carpools with vans, to serve Amador County commuters. Chapman said “Foothill Rideshare is going strong, and it had a real jump when gas prices skyrocketed.” She said the program has had 2 or 3 people sign up per month since the beginning of the year. The Rideshare database had 230 people in it this time last year, she said, and it now has 500 individuals signed up. She said Rideshare sign-ups takes names, leaving points and destinations, which go into the database and “cluster people to form van pools.” She said the program is structured to cover 5 vanpools. If the budget warrants it, it can be cut down to 2 vanpools. She said the program does not yet have an operating vanpool, but is nearing the number of sign-ups to have a “cluster” of riders big enough to create a vanpool route. She said the county has a “need to reduce our vehicle miles traveled as a county, as an area,” due to air quality. She said Rideshare does not own a van for its vanpool. Board Chairman, Supervisor Ted Novelli asked what type of van Rideshare sought: a 12-, 15-, or 18- seater. Chapman said it needed to carry at least 6 riders, the number needed to get a vanpool going. She said Rideshare matches usually have 5 or 6 people in a “cluster,” up from 2 or 3 people in the clusters last year. The vanpool groups contain only people interested in riding in a vanpool, and she said there is enough people to get a van for the program. But she said, after talking to Enterprise Rent-a-Car, “it’s not going to be cost-effective to lease a van.” Novelli asked her to come back with some costs on the purchase of a used van, in 2 months. The Air District Board next meets 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28th, in the supervisor chambers, as its March meeting was canceled. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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