Dear Dial-a-Ride Customer:

Transcription

1 Dear Dial-a-Ride Customer: As a Dial-a-Ride user, you may have noticed that reserving a trip is not as easy as it used to be. This is due to the demand for Dial-a-Ride services becoming much higher very quickly. At the same time, RoadRUNNER Transit does not receive additional funding to support the Dial-a-Ride program. Therefore, we are investigating the possibility of charging fares for senior citizen trips on the Dial-a- Ride service. As a senior citizen user of Dial-a-Ride, we want your input on the question of charging a fare for senior trips on Dial-a-Ride. Dial-a-Ride does not currently charge a fare for trips provided to senior citizens, but donations are accepted. Attached is a very short voluntary survey that will take only a couple of minutes to complete. A pre-paid return envelope has been provided for your convenience; please have it returned to our office by October 31, A brief outline of the issue that is causing us to seek your input can be found on the next page. Please take a moment to complete this survey and let us know what you think. No final decisions have been made we first want to hear from you, our valued customers. Thank you for your time! Michael Bartholomew City of Las Cruces Transit Administrator

2 What is Dial-a-Ride? RoadRUNNER Transit s Dial-a-Ride is a point-to-point accessible transit service intended to serve senior citizens who are at least 60 years old and people with qualifying disabilities. Dial-a-Ride trips are scheduled by customers in advance. All transit systems are required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to offer a Dial-a-Ride type of service to persons who have a qualifying disability that prevents them from using the regular fixed route bus service. There is no requirement for transit agencies receiving federal transit funds to provide exclusive senior transportation. However, for cost efficiency, the City of Las Cruces opted to combine Senior Transportation services with the required ADA service in Before that, the city s Senior Programs operated the senior transportation program. What does Dial-a-Ride cost? Based on the City s annual financial reports for the Dial-a-Ride program, the average operating cost to the City for one trip is over $21.00; this compares with $4.00 per trip for regular bus service. Dial-a-Ride charges a $2.00 fare per one-way trip to ADA qualifying riders; on fixed route ADA riders travel for 50 per trip. Seniors age 60 and over can ride the regular bus for 50 per trip. There is no fare for senior trips on Dial-a- Ride. Seniors can also give donations for their trips, but those donations only average about 8 per one-way trip. Why is RoadRUNNER Transit exploring a fare for senior trips? The high operating cost of the Dial-a-Ride service is impacting RoadRUNNER Transit s ability to grow and meet the needs of a growing community. In Las Cruces, Dial-a-Ride senior transportation contributes to about 25%, or ¼ of the total cost of RoadRUNNER Transit services, yet these trips make up only 6% of all trips provided. Approximately 31% of all transit operations are paid for with federal transit grants. Grant funds are applied evenly to all transit programs, including senior transportation. Because, unlike other cities, senior transportation in Las Cruces is not provided through other programs, a relatively high percentage of federal transit dollars that Las Cruces receives are used towards a Dial-a-Ride type of operation. This results in fewer federal dollars being available for other transit services such as regular fixed route bus service and our ability to expand routes and hours of service.

3 SENIOR CITIZEN RIDER SURVEY ON DIAL-A-RIDE FARES 1. If Dial-a-Ride were to charge you a fare, what do you think would a fair amount to charge per trip: 2. If Dial-a-Ride were to charge you $2.00 per one-way trip (the same as what is charged to qualifying ADA riders) would you: (please check one box) Stop using Dial-a-Ride Schedule fewer rides It would not change how often I ride 3. Currently, senior citizens pay a 50 fare on the regular bus. If you were charged a $2.00 fare to use Dial-a-Ride, would you consider using the fixed route RoadRUNNER bus instead? (please check one box) Yes Yes, but I would need some training on how to use the bus No, because I cannot understand how to use a bus No, because I am physically unable to use a fixed route bus No, I prefer not to use the bus for other reasons 4. If a $2.00 fare were charged to use Dial-a-Ride, would you use the regular fixed route RoadRUNNER bus if senior citizens could ride regular buses for free? (please check one box) Yes, I would start using a regular bus Yes, if I were provided some training on how to use the bus No, because I cannot understand how to use a bus No, because I am physically unable to use a regular bus No, I prefer not to use the bus for other reasons

4 5. One-third of all Dial-a-Ride trips are either to or from a Senior Center. RoadRUNNER Transit is also exploring the option of allowing trips on Dial-a-Ride to remain free to and from all Senior Centers but charging $2.00 for all other senior trips. Please let us know your level of support of this option. Strongly like this option Like this option Have no opinion on this option Dislike this option Strongly dislike this option 6. Give us your opinion on this statement: Dial-a-Ride should operate only an ADA-eligible based service, regardless of age, and the same fare should apply to everyone who uses Dial-a-Ride. Strongly agree Agree Have no opinion Disagree Strongly disagree 7. What type of transportation do you currently use? (check all that apply) Bicycle Taxi RoadRUNNER Transit Bus Dial-a-Ride Walk Personal car Non-profit agency Rely on friend or relative Other:

5 8. If you do not currently use public transportation (City bus), what prevents you from using it? (check all that apply) Cost Bus stop is too far Safety (If checked please explain): Weather Schedule is hard to understand Physically too difficult Language barrier Bus doesn t come often enough Time consuming Routes don t go where I want to go More convenient to drive Dial-a-Ride is a less expensive alternative Dial-a-Ride is more convenient alternative Other: 9. What is your reason for visiting the Senior Centers? (check all that apply) Case Management Group (Congregate) Meals Recreation and Socialization Wellness Programs Other Name of Center(s) currently visiting: Do not visit Centers 10. Describe your current living situation: Senior Housing Assisted living Live alone Live with partner/spouse Live with family/friends Other:

6 11. Do you have a physical disability that prevents you from doing everything you need or want to do? Yes No Not applicable 12. Where do you get your information about local senior services? Word of mouth Television Newspaper Radio Senior Center Friend AARP Office on Aging Internet Other (Please specify) Comments: Thank you for completing the survey. Please mail to: City of Las Cruces RoadRUNNER Transit P.O. Box 20000, Las Cruces, NM 88004