Minibus issues, D. Brennan ltr
Jeanne Schneider - Issues about the mini bus
1
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To:
Date:
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"D J Brennan" <DJ.Brennan@mchsLcom>
<rdbuol@cityofdubuque.org>, <amichalski@cityofd..
05/15/20062:42:18 pm
Issues about the mini bus
/J;i//!;
~JA/--Y
Ladies and Gentlemen!:
I think there are some issues that you should know when you consider the
upcoming discussion about the mini-bus transportation issues that are coming
your way.
First, we came here from the Twin Cities. Our son is disabled and used the
metro mobility system in the Twin Cities. The fees were much higher but the
service was really good.
When we came here we had major problems getting established with the bus
system. They would not honor any of the paperwork or federal ADA clearances
from the Twin Cities system. When he was finally cleared, he was sent the
wrong access card and phone number and we had to deal with his authorization
again.
When we finally got the service arranged, the bus would not always come on
time and I would have to take him to his classes or appointments. The bus
would come late, they would come to the wrong address or location (we could
see them down the hill waiting and then we would sometimes get a call about
where we were). The bus has to be called for in advance but is almost never
available. There have been times when he would have to wait for a bus to
come home or not have service delivered because they said he did not request
the bus for a return trip. I had been standing near him when he made the
call, I know he requested the bus on a return trip. If we had been billed
for a trip that the bus did not make or was so late for that I had to take
him, or for a trip that the bus came to the wrong place to pick him up I
would have been more angry than I had already been. This is a bad idea
until you get the service straightened out and reliable. It can be done.
We have seen it work.
We have not even tried to use the bus in the last year and a half. There
was a huge mess with the reassigning of transit passes or authorization
again. We just said forget it. It was not worth the hassle to us for a
really bad service. These services are not just for the transportation --
they are the means of independence for our disabled people. Our son has
vision problems. He doesn't want his mom taking him everywhere. In Dubuque
he has no options anymore.
Mini-bus or transit for ADA entitled people is a fantastic service - when it
works - when it doesn't it becomes a nightmare for the family. We would
gladly pay more for a service that works but even $1.00 a trip is too much
if the service is unreliable and unavailable.
Thank you for your service. This is going to be an issue for you. You need
the knowledge of problems with the system.
Deanna Brennan
658 Chestnut St
557-7797