The Greensboro Transit Agency (GTA) will hold the second of three virtual public meetings on Access GSO fares at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 11.
GTA is proposing a fare increase for Access GSO riders from $1.50 to $3 per trip beginning Jan. 1, 2022.
Access GSO is the paratransit service for handicapped individuals. Access GSO was called SCAT for years but changed its name in January after a complaint from a rider about some of the meanings of the word scat, including animal excrement.
This is the second attempt to something about the increasing deficit of the Access GSO service, which costs the city over $30 per ride. On March 1, following a discrete announcement, GTA limited the transit options for Access GSO riders in the premium service area. After 8 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends, riders in the premium service area could use I-Ride, which is an Uber like service but not Access GSO. The minimum cost for I-Ride is $6 and can increase based on the length of the trip and is higher if the rider uses a wheelchair.
According to the American Disabilities Act, GTA is required to provide paratransit service within three-quarters of mile of bus routes. However, in 2007 the Greensboro City Council decided to provide paratransit service anywhere in the city limits of Greensboro. The premium service area is the area outside of the three-quarter mile of a bus route where the city is not legally required to provide paratransit service.
Access GSO riders spoke at City Council meetings of the hardship of having to pay $6 and more per ride when they had been paying $1.50.
On Tuesday, April 6, Mayor Nancy Vaughan, who has no authority over GTA, ordered that the Access GSO service be provided to those in the premium service area as it had been before March 1.
The public hearings represent another way to reduce the deficit from operating Access GSO, doubling fares from $1.50 to $3.
There will be another virtual public meeting on the proposed fare increase at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 17 and a public hearing at the Greensboro City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Those who would like to participate in the virtual public meetings at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11 or Monday, May 17 may call 646-558-8656 and enter the meeting code 3097051829 followed by #.
Or you can access the Zoom meeting by clicking here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3097051829 – success or copying that address and pasting it in your browser.
GTA is also accepting comments by phone at 336-373-2724 or 336-373-2166 and by email to courtney.rorie@greensboro-nc.gov or, george.linney@greensboro-nc.gov or through the ridegta.com website.
Mandate Mayor strikes again. How can city staff and attorneys allow and elected official to rule by decree over things the mayor has zero power over? Complicit in illegal mandates? Scared for their jobs? Incompetent?
Just because our Mandate Mayor demands something doesn’t mean it is legal, a good idea, or even possible.
If it costs $30 per rider, why is the rider only paying $1.50 or $3.00? See how long a legitimate business would last on that one. Right, the city is not in business to make a profit; but, not an every-increasing loss either. There is enough money in the Country to fund all this spending. Even if the Govt too ALL our national income, there isn’t enough to pay for the current and future spending.
No matter who you send downtown, Raleigh, or Washington; our politicians will spend every dollar you send, and as more more as they can possible finagle. All to get (re)elected, and be where are the power (cash) is.
Doesn’t anyone know what is really going on?
Thanks for the article and for the contact info. I appreciate your balanced reporting. There are solutions to these concerns that include the private sector. An endowed fund supported by those who are in a position to share could help with the actual costs.
I am proud of my city offering this service. Increasing the fees enormously for those least likely to be able to access funds to pay is untenable. Minimal increases over time might be considered along with private support.
Just a thought.