ALAMEDA — Town will finish its free shuttle service due to low ridership and quite a few complaints, and can as a substitute begin an AC Transit free bus cross program for low-income seniors and other people with disabilities.
“What we’re attempting to do is present independence for seniors and other people with disabilities to allow them to get out and go wherever,” Katherine Kaldis, the paratransit program coordinator for the town of Alameda, stated concerning the bus program, in an interview. Alameda oversees and funds the shuttle program and can now do the identical for the bus cross program.
The Alameda Loop Shuttle, which has been round since 2010, is open to all, with preferential seating for seniors and other people with disabilities.
However the shuttle has had issues the previous few years. Many individuals who complained to the town stated the motive force didn't cease for riders at a shuttle cease or modified routes and bypassed a cease. Different complaints had been a few lack of shuttles operating throughout lunch hours, drivers’ habits and the administration of MV Transportation of San Leandro, which runs the shuttle.
Some folks stated that MV Transportation didn't give you a plan to supply service on the Little John Commons, a residential complicated for seniors and veterans, when the shuttle cease was blocked due to building. Riders stated that MV Transportation ignored emails and by no means gave a definitive response on how it will deal with the change.
Of the 35 shuttle riders the town surveyed final yr, 32 stated additionally they experience AC Transit buses.
The brand new bus cross program will permit 315 Alameda residents limitless rides all through the town for its first yr. It’s anticipated that the typical variety of rides shall be 33 per 30 days for every particular person. After the primary yr, the town hopes to develop this system to incorporate 50 extra riders.
“[Shuttle riders] wished it to run for longer hours and so they wished it to run extra days,” Kaldis stated of the shuttle service. “And while you have a look at what they’re actually asking for, it’s AC Transit, which simply is smart that you may truly assist extra folks [on] extra days.”
In line with Kaldis, shuttle ridership was by no means the place the town wished it to be and the pandemic worsened issues. In January 2020, pre-pandemic, utilization was at 884 rides a month. This previous January, ridership was lower than half, at 425 rides per 30 days.
The associated fee the town was paying per experience went from $13 to $34 as ridership went down. The common experience value extra as a result of the price of working the shuttle was nonetheless the identical although there have been fewer riders. By comparability, the cost from Alameda to AC Transit for the free bus passes will come out to lower than $2 per experience.
Nonetheless, a number of individuals who stay at Waters Edge Lodge, a residential senior group, wrote to the Metropolis Council supporting the continuation of the shuttle. Kaldis stated throughout Tuesday’s Metropolis Council assembly she has spoken with them and has taken a bunch of seniors on a coaching experience to point out them find out how to use the AC Transit system, which she plans on persevering with to do with others.
The present shuttle route varies primarily based on the day of the week however every one at all times stops at Alameda Hospital, Alameda Major Library, Kaiser Permanente, Mastick Senior Heart and South Shore Heart at Dealer Joe’s/Safeway. All these areas may even be accessible via AC Transit routes.
The shuttle program will proceed via the top of June. The bus cross program will start in July. Individuals fascinated by getting a cross can ship an e mail to CityParatransit@alamedaca.gov.
The bus cross program shall be for low-income seniors and other people with disabilities with a yearly revenue of lower than $76,750 for a one-person family and fewer than $109,600 for a household of 4.
“It’s necessary to spend money on and preserve public transit,” Vice Mayor Malia Vella stated throughout Tuesday’s council assembly. “It’s going to learn such a broad scope, a broad pool of individuals.” The Metropolis Council voted 4-1to assist the brand new bus cross program.
The shuttle program was funded via Measure B and BB funding. Measures B and BB had been accepted in 2000 and 2014, respectively. Measure B is a countywide half-cent gross sales tax earmarked for transportation, and Measure BB prolonged the tax and elevated it to at least one cent.
The AC Transit bus cross program will value the town round $200,000 yearly, for a complete of not more than $673,000 over the following three years.
Town will proceed funding passes for Alameda Level Collaborative’s 167 items, at a value of $25,000 yearly. Alameda Level Collaborative is a nonprofit that gives housing and different help for individuals who have been homeless.