Last Updated on Friday, 23 December 2011 10:50

Dec. 23, 2011 -- Westchester County has two changes in store for its popular paratransit system that provides transportation for those unable to use regular bus service due to disabilities, County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced today.

"Providing paratransit riders with quality service remains a priority, but at the same time we constantly look for ways to decrease the costs to our taxpayers," said Astorino. "We know how much people rely on our paratransit system, and these two changes will help our riders by providing more options on service. This is an example of how smart actions by government can deliver better service at a lower cost."

The initiatives are:

• Beginning in January, the county is launching a one-year pilot "Bee-Line Taxi" program with the City of White Plains. On average, ParaTransit van rides cost the county $50 per trip. The county projects that the taxi rides will cost $14 per trip and will be used annually for about 8,300 trips, saving $300,000 a year. If the program is successful, the county will look to expand beyond White Plains. Paratransit riders within the city will be given a choice of which service they want; either way, the fare will be $4.
• New fuel-efficient vehicles are being incorporated into the county's paratransit fleet. These Ford Transit Connect vehicles are significantly less expensive to operate than the county's standard vehicles.

The county currently provides origin-to-destination van service through its paratransit system to 5,500 registered riders a year. In 2011, it is expected the service will provide 220,000 trips. Under the federal American with Disabilities Act, services must be provided to people who are unable to ride the county's Bee-Line bus system due to a disability. (Go to www.westchestergov.com/disabled.)

Evan Latainer, executive director of the county’s Office for the Disabled, said of the changes: “Both of these initiatives are designed to improve service and at the same time save the county money.”