The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Thursday, February 6, 2003


Transit program
for disabled
could start March 1

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

Mercer County Community Transit does not have PennDOT's permission to begin a new transportation program for disabled people, but hopes to by March 1.

"They don't want us charging into anything we're not prepared for," said transit manager Bill Jones.

But, the agency is accepting applications for people who would like to use the service.

Wednesday, Jones met with members of agencies and groups that serve people with disabilities and went over the application.

Jones said PennDOT has found that word of mouth is the most effective means of promoting the service, and he hopes that those who deal with people with disabilities directly will spread the word.

He stressed that all information asked for in the application, other then e-mail address and work telephone number, must be filled out.

"If you skip it, you're denied," he said, adding that PennDOT wants all the data and will take it into account if transit applies for more state funding.

Applicants will need to verify that they are disabled, such as from a physician, the state Office of Vocational Rehabilitation or Social Security.

But they will not have to verify their income, only list an income range.

Vivian LaCamera, secretary of Helping People With Disabilities, said she didn't think applicants would have a problem revealing the necessary information.

"Basically, its the same information we've been giving, but more in-depth," she said.

The groups pointed out a number of problems with the forms, and Jones said he would check with PennDOT and try to clarify some questions.

Alan Dunfee of Voices for Independence said he thought the forms were pretty straight-forward and would not present a problem to fill out.

He also said the program has the potential to help a lot of disabled people.

"If this works out the way they're saying it's going to work out, there is going to be accessibility for people to do something that you and I do every day," he said. "We're talking about hundreds and hundreds of people who can't make it to the store."

Part of the reason for the in-depth questionnaire is to make sure the applicant cannot be served by another program.

Jones added that separating the funding streams will at times be difficult. He noted that the program is not allowed to transfer Mercer County Association for the Retarded clients to workshops, but those same people could potentially use the service to go shopping.

He added that if someone from, say, Jefferson Township, needs a ride to the Shenango Valley Mall in Hermitage, transit can do it. But, if that person wants to go from the mall to somewhere else in the Shenango Valley, he or she would have to take a Shenango Valley Shuttle Service bus, which offers rides under an Americans With Disabilities Act program.

Transit also must clarify its policy on escorts or attendants, Jones said. In some cases, they have been charged the same fare as those they are accompanying, while others said they have not been charged.

The Rural Transportation Program for Persons With Disabilities is funded by a $159,250 PennDOT grant. It will allow people with disabilities -- permanent and temporary -- to ride transit buses and pay only 15 percent of the fare. With an average fare of about $11, the disabled rider would have to pay $1.65.

Initially, the program will follow transit's normal hours of service, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Shenango Valley and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in other parts of the county, Jones said. Potential riders must call by 2 p.m. the day before to schedule a ride.

While the majority of the grant will be used to buy two buses, the buses will not be dedicated to transporting disabled passengers -- they will become a regular part of transit's fleet -- and they will not be available for a number of months.

Jones said he's waiting for PennDOT approval of the low bid before ordering them. He said transit will be able to handle additional riders when the program starts, adding that a big increase in ridership is not anticipated for some months.



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