California Vanpool Authority
The California Vanpool Authority (also known as CalVans) is a Joint Powers Authority with member agencies throughout Central California. Since 2001 the Agency has operated vanpool service, beginning with a single van serving county employees and expanding to almost 400 routes serving 23 counties statewide. The program (now called CalVans) has been able to expand transit service to residents of low population density areas, connecting workers to jobs in ways that fixed-route transit systems could not.
The Authority is sponsored by the Kings County Area Public Transit Agency.
Service model
CalVans receives bulk discounts on vans. Find leasee/operator who can collect money and administer the vanpool.
Funding
The program, funded through a combination of grants and operating revenue, has been financially self-sustaining from the day it began, according to Hughes.
===Access According to Hughes, CalVans model allows it to accept leasee/operators who would be declined by for-profit vanpool companies due to poor credit. Because of this, he sees the service as providing a lifeline to individuals who would not otherwise be able to access jobs.
Notes
Portions of the content appearing on this page are based on an interview between Juan Matute and Ron Hughes on September 9, 2011.