Indiana town expands its accessible transportation

From The Star Press:

MUNCIE, Ind. — Wheelchair-users will no longer be tied to the city bus schedule to visit friends, family or to do a little shopping.

A new Delaware County transit program operated through the Eaton EMT center now provides rides to community residents every hour of every day.

Program organizers hope to give local wheelchair-users freedom to travel throughout the county beyond the Muncie Indiana Transit System and InterUrban schedules and routes, improving their quality of life.

"People who have accessibility issues ... during the daytime, they could use MITS, but there wasn't much available outside of that. And this wasn't just a city problem, it's a county problem, it's a state problem," said Mike Foster, chief operating officer for Eaton EMTs Inc. "Now, If someone wants to go shopping or anything else, we're there for them."

Any county resident is welcome to use the Accessible Taxi, which began operating in October, but emphasis has been placed on wheelchair-users.

Ten years ago, the Eaton EMT service began to provide medical transportation beyond emergency ambulance rides. The service took any client to doctors' appointments and non-emergency hospital visits, but this year, things have changed, with the EMTs using wheelchair vans to provide rides anywhere in Delaware County.
Thanks to a contract provided by MITS, the Eaton EMTs now supplement the bus schedule with the Accessible Taxi Service. People who use wheelchairs can now run errands on the weekends or meet family members for holiday brunches.

The ride isn't cheap, however. Currently, a round trip will cost at least $20, with a $1.25 surcharge for each mile.

The Federal Transit Administration has provided funds for some of the costs, and sponsors from MITS, LifeStream (which operates the New InterUrban, a rural transportation system), the United Way of Delaware County and others have provided what they can.

MITS or InterUrban certified riders (those who are certified as having a disability or needing a wheelchair to get around) can ride for $5 each way with a voucher purchased from MITS or LifeStream.

"We'd like to get the word out so people can apply (for the vouchers)," said Mary Gaston from MITS. "The beauty of it is, this lets (Eaton EMTs) do what they do best: get people around the county."

Plans for this service have been in the works for years, after a study by the Muncie-Delaware County Metropolitan Plan Commission in 2007 demonstrated a need for transportation services beyond the MITS and InterUrban schedules.

Seeing the service move from the planning stage to reality has pleased long-time supporters of the taxi project.

As long as those who were formerly without choices now have the freedom to move about as much as they like, the project is a success.

"It's a great service. And we're so happy to have opportunities for people to get around," said Donna Penticuff from LifeStream. "This is just so great."