CCabs to abs to AAugment the ugment the BBus us

SSystem (CABS)ystem (CABS)

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CABS is a taxi subsidyCABS is a taxi subsidy

program for persons with program for persons with

disabilities who reside in the disabilities who reside in the

Cedar Rapids metropolitan Cedar Rapids metropolitan area.area.

Its purpose is to increase Its purpose is to increase access to transportation access to transportation for persons with disabilities for persons with disabilities particularly those who are particularly those who are employed, at times when employed, at times when other transportation services other transportation services are not available.are not available.

What you will learn What you will learn about CABS today:about CABS today:

• Its historyIts history• How it worksHow it works• What services it providesWhat services it provides• Who’s involvedWho’s involved• Why it’s successfulWhy it’s successful• The challenges it continues to The challenges it continues to

faceface

Linn CountyCedar Rapids

Fairfax

Marion

Hiawatha

Robins

Service Area

Population of Cedar Rapids: 120,758

People with Disabilities: 17,857

CABS supplements the CABS supplements the community’s other community’s other

transportation servicestransportation services

1.1. Cedar Rapids City TransitCedar Rapids City Transit

2.2. Linn County LiftsLinn County Lifts

3.3. Neighborhood Transportation Neighborhood Transportation Service (NTS)Service (NTS)

CABS HistoryCABS History

1989:1989: Cedar Rapids “Citizens Cedar Rapids “Citizens Committee for People with Committee for People with

Disabilities” received a United Disabilities” received a United Way Time Limited Grant to Way Time Limited Grant to

pilot a project to increase pilot a project to increase access to transportation for access to transportation for employment.employment.

1990: 1990: A coalition of public and A coalition of public and private agencies assume private agencies assume operation.operation.

2000: 2000: Personal use component is Personal use component is added.added. 2004: 2004: Accessible taxi service is Accessible taxi service is added to provide 24 hour added to provide 24 hour

access to transportation for access to transportation for allall!!

Roll-OutRoll-Out

How it WorksHow it Works

• 10 mile radius trip/limit10 mile radius trip/limit• $10.00 application fee$10.00 application fee• Participant must have a Participant must have a

documented disabilitydocumented disability• Participant can receive work Participant can receive work

pass, personal tickets or BOTH a pass, personal tickets or BOTH a work pass AND personal ticketswork pass AND personal tickets

• Intended as a “last resort” Intended as a “last resort” program. program.

• Participants asked to use less Participants asked to use less costly transportation services costly transportation services when they are available.when they are available.

• Exceptions can be granted.Exceptions can be granted.

• Work passWork pass

-can only be used by identified -can only be used by identified participant participant

-for rides from home to work or -for rides from home to work or work to homework to home

-participants notify program of -participants notify program of address changesaddress changes

• Personal use ticketsPersonal use tickets

-mailed each -mailed each quarterquarter

-currently 8 tickets per month-currently 8 tickets per month

-can be used to go anywhere for -can be used to go anywhere for

personal needspersonal needs

• Requesting a RideRequesting a Ride

-participants contact the taxicab -participants contact the taxicab

company of their choicecompany of their choice

-all 3 local taxicab companies -all 3 local taxicab companies participateparticipate

-participants pay a $5.00 per ride -participants pay a $5.00 per ride

co-pay (except NTS which has a $3.00 co-pay (except NTS which has a $3.00 co-pay)co-pay)

-limited to one location per trip-limited to one location per trip

What Services it What Services it ProvidesProvides

• CABS provides door to door CABS provides door to door transportation services for transportation services for persons with disabilities, at persons with disabilities, at reduced rates, when other reduced rates, when other transportation services are not transportation services are not available or cannot be utilized.available or cannot be utilized.

• CABS subsidizes the cost of a CABS subsidizes the cost of a taxicab ride, making it more taxicab ride, making it more affordable for persons with affordable for persons with disabilities.disabilities.

• It builds upon existing services, It builds upon existing services, ensuring that there are ensuring that there are transportation services available transportation services available 24/7 within our community.24/7 within our community.

Unduplicated Number of Unduplicated Number of CABS ParticipantsCABS Participants

FY 07FY 07 295295

FY08FY08 321321

FY09FY09

236236

(to date)(to date)

Numbers & Types of Numbers & Types of RidesRides

Type of RideType of Ride FY07FY07 FY08FY08 FY0FY099

NTS work ridesNTS work rides 13541354 1292*1292* 52*52*CABS work CABS work ridesrides 54495449 59295929 115115

44Personal ridesPersonal rides 25252525 54905490 810810TOTAL RIDESTOTAL RIDES

93319331 11,4111,4144

20120166

Who’s InvolvedWho’s Involved

-Abbe Center CC-Abbe Center CC

-Arc of ECI-Arc of ECI

-CR Transit-CR Transit

-Century Cab-Century Cab

-City Parks and Rec-City Parks and Rec

-Connor Center-Connor Center

-Goodwill-Goodwill

-LC Community -LC Community ServicesServices

-Linn County MHDD-Linn County MHDD

-NTS-NTS

-Options of Linn -Options of Linn CountyCounty

-P.A.D.S-P.A.D.S

Consumers of Services Representatives from Community Organizations

3 Principal Partners3 Principal Partners

• Cedar Rapids City TransitCedar Rapids City Transit• Linn County Linn County

(Community Services & MHDD)(Community Services & MHDD)• Goodwill of the HeartlandGoodwill of the Heartland

Each Partner’s RoleEach Partner’s Role

Cedar Rapids City TransitCedar Rapids City Transit

-Funding through its -Funding through its transportation budgettransportation budget

-Obtains JARC and New Freedom -Obtains JARC and New Freedom fundingfunding

-Provides in kind staff support-Provides in kind staff support

Each Partner’s RoleEach Partner’s Role

Linn CountyLinn County

-Funding through its MHDD budget-Funding through its MHDD budget

-Serves as fiscal agent-Serves as fiscal agent

-Provides in-kind staff support-Provides in-kind staff support

Each Partner’s RoleEach Partner’s Role

Goodwill of the HeartlandGoodwill of the Heartland

-Provides in-kind staff support-Provides in-kind staff support

Why is it SuccessfulWhy is it Successful

• Model of CollaborationModel of Collaboration

-Coalition members donate time, -Coalition members donate time,

talents and expertisetalents and expertise

-Pooling of resources, making it a -Pooling of resources, making it a

unique public-private unique public-private partnershippartnership

CABS Benefits the CABS Benefits the CommunityCommunity

1.1. Accessible transportation has enabled Accessible transportation has enabled people with disabilities to become people with disabilities to become productive members of society.productive members of society.

2.2. People with disabilities can fully People with disabilities can fully participate in community life.participate in community life.

3.3. The program has generated additional The program has generated additional business for local taxicab companies, business for local taxicab companies, contributing to the community’s contributing to the community’s overall economic health.overall economic health.

Challenges: Funding IssuesChallenges: Funding Issues

City & CountyCity & County

(17% / 83%)(17% / 83%)

$101,319 $101,319

Client RevenueClient Revenue

(co-pays, fees donations)(co-pays, fees donations)

$32,309$32,309

Grants Grants

(New Freedom and JARC)(New Freedom and JARC)

$78,034$78,034

TOTAL ALL SOURCESTOTAL ALL SOURCES $231,66$231,6622

2008 Support

• Funding cutbacks threaten the program

• Grant funding is short term, time-limited and undependable

• Need for an ongoing source of funding

• Personal use passes reduced when budget reductions are required

• Affordability of co-payAffordability of co-pay• Loss of the collaborative Loss of the collaborative

structurestructure• Continue to look at ways to Continue to look at ways to

improve & enhance servicesimprove & enhance services

ConclusionConclusion

• Program participants give CABS Program participants give CABS program high marks!program high marks!

• CABS offers a valuable service CABS offers a valuable service

for those it serves.for those it serves.

Over the nearly 20 year history, Over the nearly 20 year history, the CABS to augments the the CABS to augments the Bus System has exemplified:Bus System has exemplified:

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