Published Sunday, August 18, 2002
to expand service
at disabled riders
Herald Staff Writer
PennDOT is looking to expand a program to lower the cost of public transportation for people with disabilities, and Mercer County Community Transit wants to apply.
Transit Manager Bill Jones said he needs to hear from people who could potentially use the service to prepare the application.
PennDOT started the Rural Transportation for Persons With Disabilities Program a year ago and funded it in eight counties. The agency is making roughly $1.8 million available to other counties.
Jones said the competition is likely to be "fierce."
The deadline for applications is tight: Sept. 6.
"I want to go for it," Jones told the MCCT Advisory Committee Wednesday. "I think it's that important."
The program is modeled after one that discounts the cost to senior citizens to ride MCCT. The state pays 85 percent of the cost for a ride, seniors pay 50 cents and Mercer County Area Agency on Aging pays the rest.
MCCT, which is administered by Mercer County Regional Council of Governments for the county commissioners, charges between $1.50 and $40 for a one-way ride to people who are not seniors. Fares are based on the distance buses must travel to pick up non-senior riders.
MCCT administrators consider MCCT a para-transit service.
"It's a glorified taxi cab service, but it's designed around helping the disabled," Jones said. However, disabled riders pay the full fare.
In the Persons With Disabilities program, disabled riders would pay 15 percent of the fare, although it's likely a minimum fare would be set, Jones said.
Jones is asking anyone who could potentially use the PWD service -- anyone in Mercer County with a physical or mental disability who is not served by another publicly funded transportation program -- and agencies or businesses who deal with disabled people who could use the service, to contact him.
The state estimated that more than 1,800 Mercer Countians would be eligible to use the service.
Jones said he needs information on potential routes, times of service and equipment needs.
"We need to hear about what the people really need," he said. "We need to work in conjunction with the disabled community."
Dottie Sims, a vice president and treasurer of Helping People With Disabilities, supported the application and agreed to work with Jones.
"I am really excited about the possibility in having it," said Ms. Sims, who also is a member of the MCCT Advisory Committee.
Ms. Sims said she disappointed that Jones didn't seem interested in a suggestion made by her and others that hours and destinations be expanded beyond what MCCT now runs.
"People could apply for jobs if they can get back and forth," she said.
Jones said PWD could be used to serve people whose transportation needs are not being met, but will not solve everyone's problems.
"Will this program meet everybody's needs?" Jones said. "No. Government is not the end all for every problem."
Jones can be reached at (724) 981-1651 and wajones@mcrcog.com
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at jpinchot@sharon-herald.com