Getting to work is a particular challenge for agricultural workers in the SACOG region. Having reliable transportation is essential for farmworkers not only because they work at different farms throughout the year, but also because farmworkers move among different fields daily.
In fact, the number of vehicle miles traveled daily per household in rural areas is more than double that in urban areas. In 2005, SACOG estimated rural households on average travel 94 miles daily, compared to urban households, which average less than half of that — 41 miles.
The high mileage required is economically prohibitive when, for example, the average farmworker (including farming, fishing, and forestry occupations) in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area earns about $9.50 per hour and less than $20,000 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Comparatively, the average worker in any occupation earns nearly $20 per hour and over $41,000 annually. Few farmworkers can afford a vehicle of their own.
A 2003 report on agricultural worker transportation needs found that 72 percent of California farmworkers lacked reliable transportation. Instead, many farmworkers must ride with raiteros. Raiteros are often accused of providing unsafe riding conditions, as they may not have a license, insurance, or training, and charge workers $5 to $8 for a one-way ride.
In response to the need for better agricultural worker transportation, SACOG applied for and received over $2 million to implement an Agricultural Worker Transportation Program in Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, andYuba counties. The program would fill a transportation gap by providing safe, affordable, and dependable transportation for farmworkers. The program would operate vanpools, modeled after the successful agricultural vanpool program in Kings County.
SACOG has contracted with PRM Consulting to research market characteristics, profile target communities, and draft a business plan for successful implementation of the program. The business plan is now complete. The SACOG Board of Directors is currently considering its options for implementing and governing the proposed regional vanpool program.
For more information contact Robert McCrary at (916) 340-6228 or rmccrary@sacog.org.