Baldwin County Commission Introduces New Partnership to Encourage Shared Rides for Commuters in Baldwin County
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.
Media Contact:
Name: Taylor Bufkin
Title: Public Information &
Communications Specialist
Phone: 251.200.9015
People who commute to or from Baldwin County and are interested in joining the program can visit
https://BRATS.com/BRATScommute/ or
https://www.commutewithenterprise.com/commute/en/partners/BRATS.html.
For more information, contact Gracie Toler with Commute with Enterprise at Gracie.J.Toler@em.com,
or contact BRATS at BratsBooking@baldwincountyal.gov
