By Jack Carrerow, Staff Writer
Citing rising gas prices and a changing demographic in the area, the Reedsport City Council voted earlier this month to take over operation of the Dial-A-Ride program.
Dial-A-Ride is a county-run transport service that fills a need for affordable mini-bus transportation within the city limits.
The program has one van and a ridership that is mostly made up of senior citizens and disabled persons who depend on the service to get to doctor appointments and other short errands.
At the June 2 city council meeting, Reedsport City Manager Rick Hohnbaum told the council the program was about to be abandoned by the county as being too expensive due to rising fuel costs.
“This is a win-win proposition for the city,” Hohnbaum told the council. “We will be able to continue what’s become a very valuable service to the community at virtually no cost to us.”
Hohnbaum said that the cost of the service will be funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
“The city is in no position to take this on alone,” Hohnbaum said.
“So, with ODOT’s help, this can become a reality.”
Reedsport Police Chief Shawn Essex, whose dispatchers will handle reservation calls for the transit system, is glad the service will remain a part of the city.
“This is absolutely needed here with our growing number of baby boomers,” Essex said. They are the largest age group in the area and we have to make sure they have the services they require at this stage of their lives.”
Essex said fielding calls for bus pickup won’t take away from emergency service dispatching.
“We have a tip hotline that was graciously paid for by Deb Docken of State Farm Insurance here in town and we plan to use that line for both purposes,” Essex said. “Of course, we’ll start paying for that ourselves. People can still call in tips. But, we don’t get so many calls that we can’t use the line for this other purpose as well.”
Under the plan, ODOT will pay the city $9,400 annually, to cover the cost of fuel, maintenance and dispatch time, with drivers serving on a volunteer basis as they have in the past.
At $1.50 per one-way trip, Essex said that the income derived from fares would be minimal, around $1,000 and it would be nice to see a local business come forward and put in $1,000 to make it a free service for riders.
“Over a year, I don’t think it would be such a huge burden on a business,” Essex said. “They could put an ad on the van and it would be an inexpensive and effective way to advertise.”
The Dial-A-Ride van is equipped with a side ramp for wheelchair access and drivers are trained to assist wheelchair-bound clients.
While the service is limited to a 5-mile radius from city hall, Essex said the service should prove to be popular.
“Most seniors and disabled riders need it to get to doctor’s appointments,” Essex said. “And since everything in town is pretty close in, that should allow people to get almost anywhere.”
Riders wishing to schedule a ride can call 271-1847.
It is a recorded phone line, callers will need to leave their name, phone number, address, destination and time they want the driver to pick them up.
If it’s a round-trip, callers must leave the times they need the van to pick them up for the return.
Dial-A-Ride also is looking for volunteer drivers. Anyone interested is encouraged to visit City Hall at 451 Winchester Ave. and pick up an application.
They can also download an application from the Web at
www.reedsport.or.us.
Any questions, suggestions or concerns about the program can be directed to Deanna Schafer at 271-3603.
|
|
|
|
