Hollister
– The county’s Council of Governments voted against an
agricultural worker vanpool program at its meeting Thursday.
Hollister – The county’s Council of Governments voted against an agricultural worker vanpool program at its meeting Thursday.
The proposed program consisted of two 15-passenger vans that would have been used to transport agricultural workers to and from their workplace. According to transportation planner Veronica Lezama, organic food company Earthbound Farms had expressed interest in the program.
“I don’t think the program is going to work on this type of labor pool,” said Anthony Botelho, who sits on COG’s board of directors. Botelho said he was worried that the van drivers would end up abusing the system and charging their passengers for rides.
San Benito’s vanpool program currently has a fleet of four vans, three of which are leased out to commuters. Lezama said the agriculture transit program would have basically ben an expansion of the current program.
“We would be getting additional vans for the program for free,” she said.
Before the vote, Hollister resident Marvin Jones recalled that he had once participated in a government-sponsored vanpool. However, Jones said he now believes such programs are illegal, because they constitute government competition with private industry.
All five COG directors voted against applying for a one-time, $108,300 state grant to purchase the vans. Lezama said workers would have leased the vans from the county, covering the vanpools’ operating costs; she said employers often share the expenses.
“It’s not like they’re getting a free ride,” Lezama said. “It definitely serves a real need in this community.”
A similar busing program was attempted last year. However, usage remained low due to the lack of a stable work schedule for agriculture employees. However, the new program would have been more successful, Lezama said, because a vanpool allows for a flexible schedule.
The COG board also considered appointing Lisa Rheinheimer, a senior transportation planner at the Transit Agency for Monterey County, as COG’s new executive director. However, the discussions were not complete at press time.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
