COEUR d'ALENE - Pat Kraft doesn't find grocery shopping too hard, he said.

His electric wheelchair can usually cover the distance from his Kathleen Avenue home to Fred Meyer quickly, he explained.

Unless, that is, the light on his wheelchair starts blinking.

"That means the battery's going dead," said Kraft, who lost both his lower legs several years ago, when his blood vessels collapsed. "Twice when I've been going home, the battery's gone dead."

Kraft's wife eventually came to his rescue on such occasions, he added, but he would sure appreciate having other transportation options.

And so would many others with disabilities.

Kootenai County is working to give them a lift.

The county commissioners recently gave approval for the county to again provide paratransit service - complimentary bus service for disabled individuals - after an 8-month hiatus.

"They certainly have that right to have transportation," said Christine Fueston, county FTA grant administrator. "People with disabilities have a great need, because they might not have another way to travel."

The new Citylink Paratransit program will include three ADA-compliant buses and two vans, providing service within the urban area of Coeur d'Alene, Dalton Gardens, Hayden, Huetter and Post Falls.

After individuals schedule an appointment, a vehicle will pick them up at home, Fueston said.

Drivers will assist with doors, loading wheelchairs and hauling grocery bags.

"This service, it's not for a specific trip purpose," Fueston emphasized. "You can go shopping, go to the doctor, go to church, visit friends. You can do whatever trip purpose you would like."

The service, provided through contracted company First Transit, will only be available to folks eligible under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which will be confirmed in a certification packet.

Folks of many disabilities can qualify, Fueston said, including physical and mental.

"It can be a temporary disability - say you've broken your hip so you can't get around," Fueston said. "Or it could be seasonal. In nice weather you may be able to make it to a bus stop, but in inclement weather, you may not be able to make it."

The new service will replace the county's former paratransit program, contracted through NICE/KATS (North Idaho Community Express/Kootenai Area Transit Service).

The provider ceased operations in December 2010 during an Idaho Transportation Department audit, said Randy Kyrias, administrator of the ITD Division of Transportation Performance.

"We are well aware of the impact," he said. "It is an essential service."

ITD has been working with the county over the past several months to reinstate a paratransit service, Kyrias added.

"The main issue has been just locating a provider who would want to do the service," he said. "It's kind of a special service. There's really not that many around."

Federal law requires that if a regular fixed bus route is provided, a complimentary paratransit service must be offered too, Fueston said.

While the county's service wasn't available, the requirement has been covered by Citylink and Kootenai Medical Center, Fueston said, which provide paratransit services in partnership with the county.

"We never really didn't have paratransit; it was just reduced," Fueston said.

The KMC service solely offers rides to and from medical appointments. KMC's vehicles provided 1,577 trips last month, according to staff.

A fair number of those ferried Kraft.

The 57-year-old relies on KMC's paratransit service three times a week to make his dialysis appointments, he said.

"My wife works - she gets off work at 2 a.m.," he explained after an appointment on Wednesday. "By the time I have to come here in the morning, it doesn't work out."

He would absolutely use the county's new service, he added.

"For people that need it like me, it's invaluable," he said. "If I have to pick up a prescription but it's not ready when my wife is around, it's not an easy situation."

Individuals who use Citylink Paratransit can be accompanied by a personal care attendant, service animals and a non-ADA-eligible companion.

Folks can start scheduling rides on July 25. Service will begin on Aug. 1.

To set up a ride, call 446-2255 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., any day of the year.

To schedule a KMC bus ride call: 666-2100 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Paratransit service will be available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.

Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

The county, Citylink and KMC will also hold a public meeting about paratransit and transit services at 4 p.m. next Monday at the county Administration Building.

Fueston predicted that the 100 already signed up for paratransit service is going to grow.

"I'm hoping it will go smoothly, and the public will benefit from having that service back," she said.