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TARPS provides services to the mobility challenged
Transit services for persons with disabilities will soon be
handled directly by the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority.
TARTA’s Board of Trustees voted on June 5, 2008 to bring the
operation of the Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service
directly under TARTA’s control, ending a 19-year operational
relationship with what is now known as First Transit, Inc.,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
“TARTA is taking this action to improve both service and
accountability to the hundreds of mobility-challenged riders who
depend on TARPS to move freely within our service area and to
reduce TARPS’ operating costs,” said James K. Gee,
TARTA’s general manager. “We promise to make the changeover
from First Transit to TARTA as seamless and uneventful as
possible.”
TARTA officially takes complete control of TARPS on September
30.
Currently, First Transit operates TARPS under contract with
TARTA. The paratransit system is housed in a rented facility
with all TARPS personnel employed by First Transit. First
Transit is responsible for scheduling TARPS.
TARTA provides the funding for TARPS and owns the scheduling
system and the specially designed vehicles. After September 30,
TARPS operations will function out of TARTA’s Central Ave.
headquarters.
Changes and upgrades to TARPS will include the following: new
scheduling software will be implemented; TARPS will operate out
of its own TARTA-owned facility; TARPS riders will be surveyed
periodically about their satisfaction with the service; and to
decrease no-shows, the length of time rides can be scheduled in
advance will be reduced.
At its May meeting, TARTA’s Board voted to purchase new
scheduling software for TARPS. The updated software will
feature new maps and is expected to improve the quality of TARPS
service. The updated software will be installed beginning next
week with implementation expected before the end of August.
TARPS new facility continues moving forward. Environmental
studies are concluding at the planned location, near the
railroad station at 300 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in
south Toledo. Design work is expected to begin shortly.
According to Gee, “TARPS ridership continues to show increased
usage. TARPS recorded a 6.6 percent increase, going from 11,060
in May 2007 to 11,794 in May 2008.”
TARTA can be contacted by calling 419-243-RIDE (7433) or
visiting its Web site, www.tarta.com.
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