As businesses in the area continue to grow and commute costs continue to increase, the Baldwin County Commission is creating improvements to the transit system to attract workers to the area while reducing expenses for commuters. In partnership with Commute with Enterprise, Baldwin Regional Area Transit System (BRATS) is helping to establish an innovative and sustainable shared mobility option: vanpooling.

The Commute program is a coordinated vanpool program available to people who live inside or outside of Baldwin County and wish to access jobs in the area. The program coordinates participants who indicate their interest through various channels such as at their jobsite or via an online portal. The program then matches riders who have similar work shifts in similar areas and are interested in riding together. Each vanpool is customized to the specific needs of the group. Once four or more people are matched, a Commute with Enterprise representative will work with the group to identify needs and provide solutions. Commute with Enterprise provides the 7-15 passenger vehicle, insurance, maintenance, and ongoing support.

BRATS currently provides approximately 400 public transportation rides a day, but with increased demand on the popular system and constraints on vehicle availability and drivers, the Baldwin County Commission chose to work with Commute with Enterprise to bring their expertise, scalability, and professionalism to the Baldwin County area to further encourage the use of public transit to reduce traffic congestion, fuel emissions, and commute expenses.

The new partnership with Enterprise allows the Baldwin County Commission to support the employment needs of local businesses in our community, while introducing our community to a proven, efficient form of public transportation that was previously unavailable in the area.

The vanpool program will be partially subsidized by the Baldwin County Commission using local and federal grant funds. The remaining cost is split among the employer and/or participants, with each vanpool rider paying a set fee per month. Enterprise will provide coordination services and technology, vehicles, liability insurance, scheduled vehicle maintenance, and 24-hour roadside assistance.

Participants can choose a qualifying vanpool vehicle from Enterprise’s selection of makes and models that includes crossovers, SUVs, minivans, and large passenger vans. Vanpoolers may choose to upgrade their vehicles with optional high-end features such as satellite radio and in-vehicle Wi-Fi service.