Agenda - 01-07-1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM The following information was developed from a visit Joe Bradshaw and I made to Asheboro, NC on November 9, 1979. Their human services transportation system is currently in a period of metamorphosis and little could be garnered in the way of results or effectiveness of the new system. Currently„Asheboro Coach (bus) Company, which also provides a major portion of the areas taxi service is currently contracted to provide transportation service for the sheltered workshop, Randolph County Mental Health Developmental Center, and for DSS in part. COA, Nutrition, the Asheboro Housing Authority and the special education component of the Randolph County Schools con- stitute the other potential inputs for contract transportation service. The service is mostly of the fixed route variety and they are interested in developing this service to the maximum extent, as opposed to more costly demand response service. This is also to encourage the agencies to plan programs more efficiently. They bill the agencies and are paid by them, so as not to have to contend with masses of administrative work. They charge the Sheltered Workshop 50C per mile for each of the two 12 passenger vans they lease from them. Asheboro Coach puts the depreciation costs in an escrow account and this will be used for matching funds for the agency when it comes time to replace vehicles. They believe payment rates and fees mechanisms should be flexible and that changes be based on at least 30 days notice and the agreement of both parties_ Drivers are trained to be aware of the problems of the hand- icapped and the elderly and in terms of liability questions, all matters needs to be fully explored. In the near-term, they are thinking of a regional transit authority or nonprofit coordinating corporation, with directors drawn from the several agencies. The agencies involved have ten vehicles in place as of 9/79 with a seating capacity of 123 and and operate at between 5,000 and 30,000 vehicle miles apiece (156,000 total) annually. It appears that equipment totalling approximately 70 seats plus one spare vehicle would be required to operate a combined service and that utilization should reach 40,000 miles plus per year per vehicle in the leased pool (which is definitely the format they wish to use) . Demand response ser- vice would be best handled through present or expanded taxi ser- vice using off meter rates for qualified recipients. A provision for subscription services holds definite possibilities.