HRT to use taxicabs for some Handi-Ride customers

Some customers of the Handi-Ride curb-to-curb service for disabled people will be picked up in taxicabs instead of the small, lift-equipped buses they've become accustomed to, starting in early December.

To control spiraling costs for paratransit service, Hampton Roads Transit has modified its contract with MV Transportation to allow the use of less expensive taxis for customers who are ambulatory and do not require extra assistance. About 40 percent of trips, mostly at night and on weekends, will be moved to cabs, HRT estimates.

Additionally, some clients may experience longer trip times because the changes include extending the maximum ride time from 60 minutes to 90 minutes to allow MV to carry more passengers per trip.

HRT estimates the changes will result in reducing costs by about $500,000 a year, or about $1.25 million for the remainder of its contract with MV, a national company based in Fairfield, Calif.

The savings are actually a cost avoidance; the demand for the service, and therefore the cost, has been growing steadily. Under the new contract, HRT's Handi-Ride costs are expected to continue to rise, but not as much.

HRT's goal, said Philip Shucet, its president, is to maintain reasonable services and to better manage growing costs.

When MV began running Handi-Ride for HRT in 2008, 700 to 750 daily trips were taken, said Andy Steed, MV's general manager for Hampton Roads. Today, it's 1,000 to 1,050 per day.

Over the past three years, HRT's cost for the service has grown from $6.6 million to about $8.5 million annually.

Keith Johnson, HRT's superintendent of paratransit and bus operations, said the aging population is contributing to the growth in demand for services. Cuts in transportation services by other agencies and a spike in dialysis patients are also driving the numbers up.

So far this year, about 70 new customers a month are certified as eligible for the service. Last year, it was about 120 a month. Overall, about 1,800 clients use the service.

HRT is also encouraging paratransit riders to use regular bus service, which would be free for them and a personal care attendant. The transit agency will be offering training for customers to transition to buses.

Johnson said about 20 percent of current Handi-Ride customers could use buses: "We will not be forcing anybody to make the change to bus. If you qualify for Handi-Ride, you always can use Handi-Ride."

Johnson noted, however, that those who do switch would save money and could be more independent because advance reservations are not required.

Some customers are anxious about the changes.

"Most wonder, 'Does it meet the law and will it be as accessible to everyone as it was before?' " said Rena Lewis, who works for the Endependence Center and rides Handi-Ride.

Lewis said some people can get into cabs without difficulty, but may have a problem getting out.

The fleet of paratransit buses will be trimmed from 87 to 33. MV has given notice to its local workforce that 56 drivers and six office staff members will be laid off. That's close to half of its local workforce of 135.

Federally mandated Handi-Ride offers transportation to qualified customers for trips that start and end within three-quarters of a mile of a regular, or fixed, transit route. The $3 charge per one-way trip is double the regular bus fare.

Handi-Ride is available by reservation only. Appointments for rides must be made one to three days in advance.

Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com