FW: Cuts to dial-a-ride budget to get to our meetings and your refusal to move the meetings around the valley

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Subject: Use a dial-a-ride to get to our meetings and your refusal to move the

meetings around the valley

Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 21:46:28 -0700

http://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/2010/05/04/20100504phoenix-\

dial-a-ride-service-funds.html

GLENDALEType Size: A A APrintEmailRetweet Digg thisState's cash grab imperils

Dial-a-Ride service in Valley13 comments by Sonu Munshi - May. 4, 2010 12:00

AMThe Arizona Republic

Pam Allan has learned to deal with degenerative discs, pinched nerves and neck

problems that often render her immobile. She has even learned to live with the

long commute to and from her north Phoenix home. But the thought of further cuts

in her savior of 12 years - the Dial-a-Ride system that largely serves the

disabled and seniors - has the 66-year-old stressed to near " ulcer-causing

levels. " " If Dial-a-Ride dried up for me, I couldn't get to work, I couldn't go

to the doctor, I couldn't do everyday things I need to, " Allan said.Earlier this

year, a legislative sweep of state Lottery funds that help pay for Dial-a-Ride

service forced cities and towns to scrimp on the transit service or cut

elsewhere to compensate. Jungwirth, president of the Arizona Transit

Association, described the $34 million funds sweep as " a crippling loss for

transit in Arizona. " Forty percent of the Lottery Transportation Assistance Fund

had gone to Dial-a-Ride.The state now is one of five that provide no

public-transit funding. The others are Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii and Utah.The

impact, especially in rural Arizona, may be " devastating " because a lot of

transit there is done through non-profits that rely solely on the Lottery money

as the local match to obtain federal funds, Jungwirth said.Statewide, he warned,

municipal cutbacks to fixed routes could affect Dial-a-Ride. Federal law

requires any area that is served by a fixed bus route to have comparable service

for the disabled.Valley Metro, the agency that handles public transit for

municipalities in the Phoenix area, will hold public hearings this month to

discuss proposed cuts to fixed routes and Dial-a-Ride.Phoenix alone lost $9.2

million in Lottery funds. As a result, the city cut service from 10 p.m. to

midnight and eliminated same-day service, so users have to book a ride at least

a day in advance.Marc Schmidt, president of the West Valley chapter of the

National Federation of the Blind, said the loss of same-day service hurts a

system already " overtaxed and inefficient. " sdale, which lost $1.3 million,

is considering serving only the disabled, which could affect many seniors who

had come to depend on the service. The city also may restrict a taxi service

called Cab Connection to those who are Americans with Disabilities

Act-certified. " We know it will impact our senior residents, and it's hard to

make those decisions, but we're doing the best we can under the circumstances, "

said transportation spokeswoman Annie DeChance.Surprise officials, pressured by

citizen groups, backtracked on cuts and found other ways to deal with the loss

of funds.Some municipal officials are frustrated as residents tend to direct

their anger at them for cutting back services.At a recent City Council meeting,

Mesa Mayor said, " We're the lowest on the totem pole, and our

citizens are being dumped on by the state. " In Glendale, Peoria and Chandler,

which don't plan immediate Dial-a-Ride cuts, officials say there's no way to

know what will happen next.That has many concerned. " Many wheelchair users who

are working and pay taxes can't access (traditional) city transportation, but

they also can't pay the high cost of cabs. Dial-a-Ride is it, " said Carey

of Arizona Bridge to Independent Living.Riders said alternatives that some

cities have offered, such as taxi service with reduced-fare coupons, do not go

far enough in covering costs. Senseman, spokesman for Gov. Jan Brewer,

defended the funds sweep, saying the measures were necessary to balance the

state budget. " The governor clearly believes tough choices have to be made in

budgeting, " Senseman said, adding, " Nothing prevents local governments from

providing local funding. " Reporter contributed to this article.Type

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Dan Glines

EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD

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