Broken promise, fewer rides

Officials said they'd fully restore a transport program for the needy, but they haven't.

By DAVID DECAMP, Times Staff Writer
Published September 30, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - In August, Pasco County promised to restore a transit service for disabled and elderly residents that was cut back. Under pressure, transportation officials also pledged to come up with options to keep it running full-speed into 2008.

But neither promise came true as expected.

The paratransit ride program was reduced from an average of 270 rides each day to 180 in August. After an outcry from people denied rides to doctors appointments, county officials tapped $26,000 from a backup fund to return service to normal for September.

They blamed service demands and costs that outstripped the budget, promising to offer longer-term solutions to the County Commission in September.

But this month, daily rides still were below previous levels, averaging 245 trips, Pasco transportation manager Mike Carroll said Thursday. And the commission hasn't heard the long-term options.

Carroll and other staffers are still drawing up ideas for top county administrators and the board to consider. The commission should see them in October or November, said assistant county administrator Dan Johnson, who blamed the delay on a busy September consumed by annual budget talks.

With money tight, Commission chairwoman Ann Hildebrand, an advocate of the program, suggested the county will be resigned to not restoring service fully.

"Obviously, the service probably is not going to be restored to where it was," she said, though she still expects the board to consider changes.

Johnson also made no promise that the number of trips would be fully restored. While it's possible, it would mean other services would be cut back, he said.

Wal-Mart no priority

Carroll downplayed the focus on daily trip averages, saying they rise and fall based on the types and distances of trips each day. Medical- and job-related trips take a priority, while shopping trips to Wal-Mart have become a low priority or are not done.

Low-priority rides, such as shopping trips, likely make up the difference between the high average of 270 trips a day, and the reality of 245, Carroll said.

The extra money for September does appear to have staved off further outcries. It allowed for medical trips that had been reduced, Carroll said.

Jason Martino, a program manager at the Pasco-Pinellas Area Agency on Aging, said his organization is unaware of significant complaints, although grievances usually go to the transit agency. Martino's agency provides $277,000 annually to help pay for the paratransit program.

"I wish they could give a ride to everybody that asks for a ride. Realistically, I know that they're not able to do that," he said.

Left undecided, however, is how to keep the service from running into the same problems next year. The new budget year provides a fresh pool of money, but not more than this year, even with demands and costs rising. For example, the Area Agency on Aging will provide no increase when it doles money out Jan. 1, Martino said.

Fares, routes reviewed

Pasco transportation officials are examining ways within their budget to provide money. Possible changes include raising fares or cutting other services. For example, intervals between mass transit bus stops on U.S. 19 could be extended from 30 minutes to 60. Or $305,000 in funding for other agencies to provide rides could be reduced.

Other procedural changes to save money also are being reviewed, although Carroll declined to reveal them before top administrators get to study them.

"If there's savings by doing it," he said, "we're doing it."

David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or 800 333-7505, ext. 6232.

[Last modified September 29, 2007, 20:44:16]