TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Fares For Paratransit, Regular Bus Services Could Increase

ADVERTISEMENT

By KEVIN WIATROWSKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 30, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Disabled people who rely on Pasco County's on-call paratransit service to get around will have to dig deeper to pay for rides.
County commissioners this week approved an increase in paratransit fees to $4 a ride as part of an effort to improve the beleaguered service.
Transit officials also would raise regular bus fares to $1 to support that system. Both increases are subject to public hearings before they're final.

The county's paratransit system uses specially equipped vehicles to carry handicapped people to doctor's visits and other errands. The service operates by appointment.

In recent years, paratransit service has suffered as drivers left to work for the county's expanding fixed-route bus service. That has forced the county to rely more on expensive contractors to carry its customers, Pasco County Public Transportation Director Mike Carroll told commissioners Tuesday.

As recently as 2005, county paratransit drivers handled 65 percent of the system's daily trips. After regular bus services expanded the following year, contractors provided 93 percent of paratransit trips, according to an analysis by the county's Office of Management and Budget.

The shift resulted in rising prices, declining service and fuming riders.

Conditions improved in 2007 as transit officials replaced some of the drivers, but declined from July to September when state funds ran out, the analysis showed.

Raising fares for paratransit would generate about $163,000 to help improve the service, Carroll said. He also pledged to find more drivers for paratransit and to give priority to medical trips over shopping.

The county also relies on nonprofit organizations such as Lighthouse for the Blind and Catholic Charities to fill some of the gaps in the paratransit service.

Commissioners considered but ultimately rejected by 4-1 a suggestion by Commissioner Pat Mulieri to withhold some nearly $200,000 the county gives to charities for transit.

Mulieri, who sits on the county's Transportation Disadvantaged board, later said she thought charities could make up any lost county money with donations.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com or (813) 948-4201.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT