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children in its population who are attending these programs, and provide the vehicles to those <br /> agencies under an agreement. OPT would not operate the vehicles, but would be involved in <br /> the maintenance, and the dispatch system could be used. This is one of the options used in <br /> the past, when agencies joined the OPT system but wanted to have their own driver. In the <br /> past, OPT would make sure that the drivers were acceptable to be driving a County vehicle <br /> (licensing,training, etc.). Routing,monitoring, etc.would all be the responsibility of OPCYC <br /> and its third party special needs centers. <br /> Given the limited amount of available transportation and parent choice, it simply means that <br /> transportation cannot be offered to all at all times. Other options are possible, but it is important to go <br /> forward and implement some service, and plan for future service provision. <br /> Alternative 5: Revise the E&DTAP Program Policies <br /> NCDOT funding for Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance(E&DTAP) is dedicated to <br /> providing additional services to the elderly and disabled persons, without any state-imposed limitation <br /> regarding trip purpose. In Orange County this funding has been dedicated to medical transportation. <br /> Though restricted by trip purpose, Orange County has opened these programs by offering the service as <br /> County-wide demand-responsive service. Demand for this service has been high, reflecting the unmet <br /> need. This has exceeded the available funding, leading to a need to modify or replace the current <br /> E&DTAP policies. There is a short-run problem that needs to be dealt with immediately, but in the <br /> planning period covered by the TDP there should be consideration given to additional policy changes. <br /> Demand for E&DTAP trips is shown in Table 3-1. <br /> Table 3-1: <br /> DEMAND FOR E&DTAP TRIPS <br /> Year Ridership Percent <br /> Actual/Projected* Growth <br /> 1992 4,050 <br /> 1993 4,826 19.2% <br /> 1994 6,088 26.2% <br /> 1995 7,300* 19.9% <br /> 1996 8,760* 20.0% <br /> 1997 10,512* 20.0% <br /> 1998 12,614* 20.0% <br /> 1999 18,921* 20.0% <br /> -35- <br />