Coquitlam, BC
Save HandyDART! Public Forum
Trip Denials up 670%!
12:30pm
- 2:30pm
Samedi Novembre 23 2013
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Save HandyDART! Public Forum
Saturday November 23, 2013 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Dogwood Pavilion Seniors Centre, 624 Poirier Street, Coquitlam
(Entrance on Winslow Avenue)
A new report shows that HandyDART trip denials in Metro Vancouver increased by 670% in only five years. Data obtained through a freedom of information request shows that people with disabilities and seniors were denied service 4,900 times in 2008, 13,400 times in 2010 and 37,700 times in 2012.
Join us for an open discussion of the cuts to HandyDART services, and need to improve transit services for people with physical or cognitive disabilities – many of whom are older seniors. Members of the new ad-hoc HandyDART Riders Committee will discuss their plans to form a coalition of HandyDART riders.
The HandyDART Cuts and Freeze:
TransLink budgeted for 613,000 hours of HandyDART service in 2011, but due to the transit funding crisis this has been cut back to 598,000 hours – a reduction of 15,000 hours from what was promised. Now TransLink’s Base Plan shows HandyDART service hours frozen at this reduced level for a decade to 2023, while the population of older seniors and demand for HandyDART soars.
In addition, 10,000 hours have been cut from HandyDART and the budget re-allocated to a taxi pilot project. The substitution of taxis for HandyDART vans and professional drivers is causing severe problems for some HandyDART riders. The Taxi Pilot Project will end by December 31, 2013 when Translink will decide on whether or not to continue reducing HandyDART service in favor of using more taxis.
Improving HandyDART service, and increasing the budget to meet demand over the next decade, is a big challenge. Please attend the forum to share your concerns and recommendations.
Your Support Can Make a Difference!
Speakers:
HandyDART Riders Committee Representatives
George Heyman MLA, NDP TransLink critic
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart (To be confirmed)
Eric Doherty, Transportation Planner
Bob Chitrenky, President ATU Local 1724
(Todd Stone MLA, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and representatives of TransLink and HandyDART operator MVT have also been invited but have not confirmed)
Organized by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1724 and the ad-hoc HandyDART Riders Committee
Invite friends on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/events/217573411757076
The site for the Vancouver local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.
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Media coverage
There are links to media stories, and the full report on the facebook event page. See
https://www.facebook.com/events/217573411757076