Amador County - The Amador County Transportation Commission brainstormed public transportation issues last Wednesday during a report on transportation needs from Nina Machado, Chairperson for the Social Services Transportation Advisory Counsel. During public comment, Machado said she gathered input on transportation issues during a recent Behavioral Health meeting. She said much of the feedback complimented the way ARTS has improved in working with the public, but there is still a need for “alternative ways to help people with transportation.” She said “evenings and Saturdays continue to be a challenge for transit dependent individuals.” She said many low-income clients are excited about a recently approved $3 ticket for all day travel, but were wondering if they could exchange these in route for $1 and $2 bus vouchers issued to clients of Social Services. Machado said they “don’t want to give out cash” to their clients and a simple voucher exchange would be the best alternative. Supervisor and board member John Plasse said it would be a good way to increase ridership. The board unanimously approved a motion by Plasse to have bus drivers accept the exchange. Machado said other suggestions included a stop at the Jackson Public Library, which was removed a while back during route reductions due to budget cuts. She said the route from Lake Camanche to Ione that serves the family learning center is working very well for participants and they wanted to thank the commission. She said a discontinued route that ran from the Shenandoah Valley to Ione learning center is “still greatly missed.” In general, she said, routes from Ione are “really limited.” Machado said the Amador Learning Center currently has to borrow vans from the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency to compensate for limited ARTS routes, but these vans only hold seven individuals, which requires “multiple trips or staggering participation on different days.” She suggested using additional vans purchased through Behavioral Health with Mental Health Services Act money for the Sierra Wind Wellness & Recovery Center, but the company which runs the center cannot afford the $6 million liability insurance requirement. She said we have vans that “aren’t being used because we can’t get insured for a $10,000 policy per year.” Plasse said the County previously donated use of those vans on the agreement that the Center find its own insurance policy. The commission approved a motion to have staff research the issue and add the item to the next regular agenda. Machado said she will gather more input on transportation needs at a Behavioral Health Steering Committee meeting on June 8. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.-
font size
decrease font size
increase font size
Amador County - The Amador County Transportation Commission brainstormed public transportation issues last Wednesday during a report on transportation needs from Nina Machado, Chairperson for the Social Services Transportation Advisory Counsel. During public comment, Machado said she gathered input on transportation issues during a recent Behavioral Health meeting. She said much of the feedback complimented the way ARTS has improved in working with the public, but there is still a need for “alternative ways to help people with transportation.” She said “evenings and Saturdays continue to be a challenge for transit dependent individuals.” She said many low-income clients are excited about a recently approved $3 ticket for all day travel, but were wondering if they could exchange these in route for $1 and $2 bus vouchers issued to clients of Social Services. Machado said they “don’t want to give out cash” to their clients and a simple voucher exchange would be the best alternative. Supervisor and board member John Plasse said it would be a good way to increase ridership. The board unanimously approved a motion by Plasse to have bus drivers accept the exchange. Machado said other suggestions included a stop at the Jackson Public Library, which was removed a while back during route reductions due to budget cuts. She said the route from Lake Camanche to Ione that serves the family learning center is working very well for participants and they wanted to thank the commission. She said a discontinued route that ran from the Shenandoah Valley to Ione learning center is “still greatly missed.” In general, she said, routes from Ione are “really limited.” Machado said the Amador Learning Center currently has to borrow vans from the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency to compensate for limited ARTS routes, but these vans only hold seven individuals, which requires “multiple trips or staggering participation on different days.” She suggested using additional vans purchased through Behavioral Health with Mental Health Services Act money for the Sierra Wind Wellness & Recovery Center, but the company which runs the center cannot afford the $6 million liability insurance requirement. She said we have vans that “aren’t being used because we can’t get insured for a $10,000 policy per year.” Plasse said the County previously donated use of those vans on the agreement that the Center find its own insurance policy. The commission approved a motion to have staff research the issue and add the item to the next regular agenda. Machado said she will gather more input on transportation needs at a Behavioral Health Steering Committee meeting on June 8. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
News Archive
Latest from Tom
- Richard Forster previews this week's Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting with host, Tom Slivick. (2 of 2)
- Richard Forster on TSPN TV News December 7, 2015 (1 of 2)
- Ebbetts Pass (State Route 4) Closed for Winter
- State HWY 89 Closed for the Winter
- Richard Forster on TSPN TV News November 23, 2015 (2 of 2)
