Title
Alachua County Transportation Disadvantaged Program (B)
Explanation
The Alachua County Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Board (ACTDCB) has requested funding assistance from the City of Gainesville. The TD Trust Fund allocation has not been able to support the current demand for service. Therefore, as of March 1, 2000 all rides are provided on a first come, first served basis. Non-emergency medical transport requests are being denied. Coordinated Transportation System (CTS) estimates that approximately $6,000 per month is needed to provide needed medical transportation until September 2000. The additional funding would provide approximately 2,100 trips.
On June 23, 1999, the ACTDCB began requiring all TD riders who were also eligible for ADA service to use the ADA service exclusively. This change has shifted a significant number of TD riders to ADA service. The City, therefore, has already in effect been subsidizing the TD program.
The City of Gainesville currently contracts with CTS to provide ADA trips. There has been a steady increase in the number of ADA classified trips since January 2000. Prior to January the number of trips provided averaged approximately 1,100 trips per month. The rides increased to 1,553 in January and 1,727 in February. March data is not available at this time. The City pays CTS $10 per ride. There has also been a rapid increase in the number of applications for ADA certification in the last few months. This increase in rides is costing the City an additional $5,000 to $6,000 per month.
Fiscal Note
Current budget for ADA rides is $10,000 per month; approximately $6,000 short of current need not counting the ACTDCB's request for an additional $6,000 per month.
Recommendation
The City Commission not approve Alachua County's Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Board's request for an additional $6,000 per month for transportation disadvantaged trips.