Paratransit fare hike reluctantly accepted

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 9:35 a.m.

A new plan that raises fares for about 100 riders of the bus service for disabled people got a smooth reception Thursday.

The plan for the "paratransit" service for people with disabilities was passed by the Regional Transportation Commission board Thursday without any argument from the public.

Some board members, including Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, said the increase was an unfortunate necessity because of the agency's ongoing financial difficulties.

But the plan presented by the agency staff makes the best of a bad situation, Gibson said. Under the plan, no rider now using the paratransit service is completely cut off from the service. Instead, they will pay a $3 premium over the regular paratransit fare.

Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, paratransit service is required within three-quarters of a mile of regular, "fixed-route" service -- an area of about 285 square miles. But the RTC had provided much greater coverage for the service -- 512 square miles.

The financially strapped agency targeted paratransit to save money, especially since the service costs an average of over $30 per trip.

The plan presented Thursday provides regular ADA paratransit service to most of the 4,700 people who regularly use the service, said Sue Joseph, RTC senior management analyst. About 100 people are in the supplemental charge area, she said.

About the same number of people submitted comments during a two-month period that wrapped up Thursday.

The most important issue for people who testified during an extensive period for public comment and hearings is that the service is necessary, even if it costs a bit more, Joseph said.

"If you include the supplemental area, no one is out," she said. "Given a choice, they'd prefer to have it as it is. But if it had to change, they wanted to continue to have some access.

"That was a message that came through loud and clear."