Subject: ADA certified to get service for at least three months
Date: Thursday, July 06, 2006 11:28 AM

MESA CITY COUNCIL 

 

Compromise extends senior rides 

 

ADA certified to get service for at least three months 

 

STORIES By SARAH N. LYNCH 
TRIBUNE 

CONTACT WRITER: 
(480) 898-6535 or slynch@aztrib.com 

 


Senior Dial-A-Ride will soon cease to exist in Mesa, but the 40-plus
residents who protested the cut at a City Council meeting Wednesday
ended up cheering and applauding after the council's final vote. 
   

That was because Scott Somers, the newest council member, proposed a
compromise to extend Dial-A-Ride Sunday and holiday services for riders
certified through the Americans With Disabilities Act for at least three
more months - maybe even for good. 
   

Currently, senior Dial-ARide is the only means of transportation for
many disabled residents on Sundays. With the council's elimination of
the service, many riders feared they would be stranded in their homes at
the beginning of every week. 
   

Somers' suggestion was unanimously approved by the council. The
extension gives him time to research some possible grant opportunities.
However, the extended service won't be open to other seniors who aren't
certified as having disabilities. 
   

Somers declined to elaborate on what kinds of grants he's looking at,
but he said he hopes to revisit this issue after the three-month period.
It will cost the city roughly $145,000 to keep the Sunday and holiday
service alive for that period. 
   

"No one expects to become disabled," Somers said before the final vote.
"Everyone on this council is one vehicle accident away from becoming
disabled." 
   

Senior Dial-A-Ride was among the many programs slashed from the city
budget recently. Funding for the program was tied to the passage of a
city property tax, which voters rejected in May. Cutting the program
will save the city a little less than $1.4 million. 
   

The council eliminated the service only for residents who aren't
ADA-certified, with the service slated to end by Aug. 7. By law, the
city is required to offer ADA Dial-A-Ride to people who live within
three quarters of a mile of a bus route. The ADA bus service will
continue to be offered. 
   

Senior Dial-A-Ride serves people 65 and older, plus disabled people who
may or may not be ADA certified. 
   

Many people gave heartfelt presentations Wednesday night to try and save
senior Dial-A-Ride. 
   

Georgio Cocciarella, 31, spoke using sign language while his father
interpreted. 
   

"I don't want to be a shutin. I don't want to be left out in the
community," he signed. "I am willing to wait for a ride. I want to go to
college. I hope you understand how important Dial-A-Ride is to people in
need." 
   

In other related business, the council voted Wednesday to boost funding
for alternative transportation services for seniors and the disabled. 
   

Dial-A-Ride 
A Valley Metro estimate on how many non-ADA riders by city will be
affected by the elimination of senior Dial-a-Ride: 
15 Phoenix 
49 Tempe 
14 Scottsdale 
33 Gilbert 
22 Chandler 
97 Mesa 
230 Total 



SOURCE: DIAL-A-RIDE