After Hours Transit?
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A new taxicab company is bringing new vigor to an afterhours transit service offered in Dickinson, N.D.
In addition to the regularly scheduled transit service offered by Elder Care in Dickinson, the agency also offers transit from 5 p.m. to midnight on weekdays, from 7 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. The after-hours service is provided through an agreement with a local taxicab company.
Deb's Cab won the contract for service within the past year. Deb's Cab replaces Queen City Cab, the company that has been providing the service since it was instituted in 1991.
The new provider has breathed new life into the service, says Midge Kuntz, executive director of Elder Care. "The benefit to passengers is phenomenal and it's greatly appreciated. They remember what it was like before this service was provided, when they couldn't go anywhere after regular hours. Now they can and it's affordable," she says.
Riders can qualify for the subsidized service by being 60 years old or older, disabled, or classified as low-income. Qualified riders apply for a "blue card" from elder care. When they request a ride, they show the card and pay a one-way fare of $1.75.
The driver records the rider's name and other information from the card and that documentation is turned into Elder Care each month. "We're able to look at the statistics and tell you exactly which group is using the contract services," Kuntz says.
In addition to the fare, the cab company also receives a base contract fee from Elder Care. The company must provide a handicap-accessible vehicle and comply with FTA drug and alcohol policies.
Last year, Elder Care provided 43,160 rides. Of those, 13,392 were provided by the contracting cab company. Of those rides, Elder Care provided 6,010 rides to passengers in wheelchairs. Of those, 1,335 were provided by the cab company.
Kuntz attributes the success of the agencies transit programs to the formation of a local transit board, the Dickinson Transportation Board. The formation of that board in 1991 helped address dissatisfaction with local transit services, consolidate efforts and improve services as evidenced by the innovative contract with the cab company.
"For groups looking to improve transit, I would encourage them to form a transit board," Kuntz says. "Rather than individual agencies working on their own, you bring a lot of people together working for the common good."
The Dickinson Transportation Board has 13 member representing the city commission and advocates for the disabled, children, low-income residents and other agencies interested in public transportation.
Fargo Transit Center Remodeling Completed
The $1 million remodeling of the Ground Transportation Center in Fargo has transformed a building of the 80s into an updated and appealing downtown facility.
The GTC is the transfer station for Metro Area Transit buses that serve Fargo and Moorhead. Federal funding paid for many of the changes made to the facility. They include new flooring, counters, lighting, seating and an indoor play area. Workers also improved the dispatch center, added extra storage space, and constructed a lounge where bus drivers can take their breaks. Mechanical systems were also repaired or replaced.
Outside renovation work involved sidewalk and street repairs, landscaping and a new look for the air exchange ducts in front of the building.
 | Left to right, Mike Simonson (Transit Planner), Rob Lynch (Fargo City Commissioner), Jean Rayl (Fargo City Commissioner), Bruce Furness (Mayor), Mark Voxland (Moorhead City Mayor), Julie Bommelman (Transit Administrator), and Lori VanBeek (Moorhead Transit Manager). |
A grand reopening was held Jan. 14 with Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness and Moorhead Mayor Mark Voxland in attendance. Voxland commented on the increased daily usage of the center and transit in the cities which defines the necessity and popularity of transit as a means of transportation. Furness expounded on the continued shared commitment between the two cities which has made the transit system a great success story and a great asset.
Metro Area Transit statistics show ridership rose 8 percent in 2003, up by 40,000 passengers from the previous year. About 536,000 passengers rode Metro Area Transit in 2003.
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