HomeMy WebLinkAboutWS Item 01 - Senior Transportation ProgramTO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF HE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ROGER NELSON, CITY MANAGER
DATE: DECEMBER 5, 2000
SUBJECT: WORKSHOP - SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since the inception of the Senior Citizen's Advisory Board two years ago, transportation
has been one of the group's main concerns. The United Way of Tarrant County has also
cited transportation as the most critical issue facing seniors in the area. Although the
Northeast Transportation Service (NETS) is available, it is often not able to meet the
needs of seniors because it is operating at a high capacity.
Several months ago, the City was asked to form a "partnership" with Call a Ride
Southlake (CARS) to address this problem. CARS is a non-profit volunteer senior
transportation program that is funded by the City of Southlake and private sources. After
looking closely at the proposal from CARS, it was determined that we could provide a
higher level of service at a lower cost by starting our own program.
The largest portion of the budget of the CARS program is dedicated to insurance for the
volunteer drivers. Our Risk Management Department has determined that we can
provide insurance to the volunteer drivers under the existing City policy with no increase
in cost. The only costs the City would incur would be the personnel cost of hiring a part-
time employee to coordinate the program, advertising the program, and supplying the
new employee with a computer, telephone, and other office supplies. The estimated
cost of the program in the first year would be $17,180. In subsequent years that would
drop to about $15,000.
Basic Facts about the Operation of the Senior Transportation Program
• The program will be housed at the Senior Activities Center.
• Linda Gregory, Senior Activities Center Director, will supervise the Program
Coordinator.
• The Program Coordinator will work from 20-25 hours per week.
• The Program Coordinator would be responsible for recruiting volunteers and
riders and matching them.
• The program will be open to all Grapevine seniors 55 and older.
• Seniors will call the coordinator and let him/her know that they need a ride at a
particular time. The coordinator will then consult the database of volunteers and
find someone that is available at that time. The coordinator will then call the
volunteer and give them the details of the trip and let the senior know that the trip
will be covered and the name of the driver.
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