Topeka ? Vanpool riders drove to victory today.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed into law SB 501 that will keep the commuter program running.

When the 2004 Legislature started, the Sebelius administration proposed eliminating the state-run vanpool, which includes 20 large, state vans that transport about 250 state employees back and forth to Topeka from Lawrence, the Kansas City-area and other locations.

The Kansas Department of Administration said the program wasn’t self-sufficient, and argued the state shouldn’t be in the business of running a commuter line because of the liability involved and the fact that it hurt private competitors.

But vanpool riders fought back, enlisting the aide of local legislators.

The new law requires that the program be self-sufficient, so the monthly fees are expected to increase, but officials have not said yet by how much.