[Updated Monday June 20 – Good news & speaking time change]
HandyDART riders made a big impression at the last two TransLink board meetings, and we expect to hear some good news at the next one. Please join us there to show your support for what we hope will be a significant step in the right direction.
The location is Room #400 – 287 Nelson’s Court New Westminster, near Sapperton SkyTrain Station (up a steep hill).
The meeting starts at 9am and the scheduled time for speakers from the public is 10am to 11am. We expect the positive news to be between 11 and 12. Please join us there at 10 am Thursday June 23 (but come even if you will be late!).
Please invite your friends on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/events/1055443211169333/
At the March meeting, TransLink’s new CEO said TransLink would “take a very hard look” at bringing HandyDART in-house. And our recent communications suggest that TransLink is taking this proposal seriously.
Recently the provincial government started announcing funding for increased HandyDART service in “targeted communities” – apparently meaning places the Provincial Liberals hope to win in the May 2017 provincial election. But the Lower Mainland has been left out so far, and HandyDART service was 38, 000 hours less than contracted for last year. The provincial government’s direct representatives on the TransLink board are Jim Chu and Murray Dinwoodie. With your help, we can get the funding TransLink needs to provide more and better HandyDART service!
To have quality HandyDART service that meets the needs of people with disabilities and older seniors, HandyDART must either be brought in-house as a TransLink subsidiary or turned over to a non-profit agency. Experience shows private corporations cost more and put profits above quality service.
The growing population of seniors and means the number of people with disabilities is increasing twice as fast as the general population. But HandyDART service hours have been frozen since 2009, and as a result trip denials went up over 600% before the private contractor changed procedures to disguise the crisis. Service quality has also deteriorated, with riders routinely forced to wait for hours.
It is time to make major investments in public transit, including HandyDART, to make Metro Vancouver a livable and age friendly region.
www.HandyDARTRiders.ca
Twitter @HandyDART_Ride
Email handydartriders@gmail.com
Phone: 604-444-9289 / 604-738-0405 / 604-732-7678
HandyDART Riders’ Alliance – HandyDART riders and allies for better HandyDART and accessible transit service
www.HandyDARTRiders.ca
Twitter @HandyDART_Ride
Email handydartriders@gmail.com
Phone: 604-444-9289 / 604-738-0405 / 604-732-7678
HandyDART Riders’ Alliance – HandyDART riders and allies for better HandyDART and accessible transit service