Document text
Transportation forum targets service for elderly, disabled By Peter Wong of the Mail Tribune Ideas about how the Rogue Valley Transportation District and others can improve transportation for elderly and disabled passengers will be discussed at a public forum. The forum will help shape how the region can obtain some of the $19 million that the Oregon Legislature made available this past session for special transportation needs. "These pots of money are targeted for transportation of elderly people and people with disabilities," said Sherrin Coleman, RVTD general manager. The forum is scheduled at 3 p.m. Feb. 8 in the RVTD boardroom, 3200 Crater Lake Ave., Medford. For information, call RVTD at 779-5821. Coleman said among the topics to be discussed are how proposed projects can benefit more riders or communities, what types of trips can be made, and how projects link up with special transportation for the entire area. RVTD and other transportation providers will compete statewide for $10 million in federal grants that the Legislature cleared for purchases of buses or other vehicles. These grants also can be spent on shelters, benches, computers and radio equipment. Once local applications are ranked, the Oregon Department of Transportation will approve grants. RVTD and local providers are guaranteed a share of the $9 million, slightly less than the $10 million originally requested by Gov. John Kitzhaber, that the Legislature added for special transportation operations. Coleman said the estimated increase of about $155,000 would boost the total available for operations locally by about 50 percent. An advisory committee on special transportation and the RVTD board will review and approve how to spend this new money. Special transportation operations have been funded largely by a 1985 state cigarette tax of 1 cent per pack. But Coleman said the local amount of between $200,000 and $300,000 has been static, so the money buys less each year. The money is distributed according to general population, although the proportion of older people in Jackson County exceeds the state average. Through Valley Lift, RVTD provides most of the rides for elderly and disabled passengers in Jackson County. Other providers are the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Upper Rogue Community Center, and Cascade Cab through a coupon book. A 1999 study commissioned by ODOT said that the number of elderly and disabled passengers is more than double previous estimates, but current help for them was less than half of what is needed. The study recommended an increase of $25 million annually. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA