Subsidized taxi service rolls into 2011

Subsidized taxi service rolls into 2011
Subsidized taxi service rolls into 2011
Subsidized taxi service rolls into 2011
Subsidized taxi service rolls into 2011
                        
A key program aimed at providing affordable transportation services to low income residents of Wooster will continue in 2011, as members of Wooster City Council voted unanimously during their Jan. 18 meeting to continue the city’s subsidized taxi service through 2011. Under the Wooster recreation division managed program, income eligible Wooster citizens purchase a card redeemable by Miller Cab, Wooster Express or 5-Star for one taxi ride within the Wooster city limits. While the cost to the resident to purchase the card is just $3, the city reimburses the participating cab companies $5 for each card redeemed by participants in the program. The program has been an important resource for low income families since its inception in 1996 when the city terminated its bus service due to loss of federal funding. The need for this type of transportation service increased with the disbanding of the Holmes-Wayne-Tuscarawas Transportation System, which ceased operations in 2008 due to the unavailability of federal grant funding and rising fuel costs. Participation in the program is on the rise. According to Councilman Mark Cavin, who introduced the legislation, in 2010 there were 529 active participants in the program. In 2009, that figure was 455, for a net increase of 74 riders in 2010. Susan Kelley, recreation division manager, said that while the number of riders was up, the number of transports declined from approximately 45,000 rides in 2009 to 34,000 rides in 2010. “I think it’s indicating that while there are more riders they may be becoming more disciplined on when they use their rides,” observed Councilman Jon Ansel. “Prior years have been substantially higher because they might have had a little more expendable income and they were making three trips to the north end versus two trips to the north end and we see that in the final numbers.” Cavin stated that in 2010 the city paid the participating taxi companies $165,000, which was offset by income of $115,000 from the sale of taxi cards to program participants for a total cost to the city of approximately $50,000. Councilman Mike Buytendyk noted that the city’s out-of-pocket costs for operating the program would be far higher if the city operated its own program. “I’d like to underscore that there’s no way the city of Wooster could have their own transportation program for anything close to what we’re spending on these subsidized cab rides,” said Buytendyk. “It’s quite a return to the people of the city of Wooster to be able to get a subsidized cab ride that’s going to take you from point A to point B, directly from your house to where you want to go, as opposed to in a bigger city where you’re dependent upon where the bus routes are.” Ansel expressed his appreciation to the local taxi companies for supporting the program by holding the line on their costs, noting that the cost to the city per ride has remained steady for the past four years. “That’s a phenomenal accomplishment with those companies involved in this process,” said Ansel, noting that the taxi companies have absorbed both the higher administrative costs associated with serving more customers and rising fuel costs with no increase to the city. “It’s a pretty remarkable service that we provide to the lesser income users of this service,” said Ansel. “It’s a great team effort by all the parties involved servicing the citizens of Wooster.” “Given the lack of alternatives it seems like a pretty valuable service to the citizens,” said Cavin.


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