I wish to bring this situation to the attention of the public. I am disabled and my transportation is a wheelchair with the help of East Valley Dial-A-Ride. The Dial-A-Ride has an excellent service.
They provide transportation to disabled persons and their drivers are experienced in helping these people, such as blind people, (those with) muscular problems, and people that need help to get from their house into the bus and to be helped from the bus to their home.
This service is very important to all the disabled people, who would not be able to get to doctors or centers for the disabled.
I have watched the way the drivers of the bus help these people. Now this wonderful service is about to be taken away from all these people that are desperately in need of it. They say that the service will be replaced by taxi cabs. This is not possible because taxi cab drivers work by each ride and not by the hour like the Dial-A-Ride drivers, who are trained to help these disabled people and are paid on an hourly basis. Most of these disabled people are not able to make this complaint, because of their disability.
I happen to be disabled only in my legs and not in my head. We are looking for help for all these poor people. Please help! The disabled people have not had a say in this matter. It is just being done behind their backs. All these disabled people have no voice in this.
Herbert Geller
Mesa
Cerulean posted at 3:45 pm on Thu, Mar 15, 2012.
Herbert,
I agree that dial-a-ride is a much-needed service. However I read an article on the Tribune recently that said, “. . . the service isn’t going away despite misinformation that has spread,”. I understand that Valley Metro is changing the subcontractor to Total Transit who claims that they can do the job for less expense.
You can read the article here: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/article_8243574c-6977-11e1-9fd3-0019bb2963f4.html
Bingo6 posted at 2:38 pm on Sat, Mar 17, 2012.
Right, and the savings dollar wise will be around 3,000,000.
The real reason is, Veolia/RPTA, will be laying off all their EVDAR drivers, dispatch and scheduling personnel and support staff. About 100 people alltogether, for what, about, 3,000,000 in wages and benefits.
These, extremely vulnerable mentally challenged, blind, and extremely disabled east valley residents will be at the mercy of Total Transit ( AKA Discount Cab) all independent non-cdl drivers with no ADA experience, or required training, or compelled to offer door to door service.
So, Valley Metro, and the east valley city officials are more than willing to leave welfare of our most vulnerable citizens to rank amateurs.
This is a disaster waiting to happen.
sockratties posted at 7:01 am on Tue, Mar 20, 2012.
Perhaps Linda Turley-Hansen, the oh-so-compassionate East Valley harpy has the answer. She chooses to rampage against those who would spend her money on “Forced Compassion.” Let's see how she would solve this problem. Will she volunteer her mini-van once a week?