Grant Transit Authority to provide paratransit service for qualifying riders
CALEB PEREZ | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 months, 2 weeks AGO
The Grant Transit Authority will start providing curb-to-curb “paratransit access” service for qualifying bus riders in July, after the expiration of contract for the service with People for People.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
EPHRATA — The Grant Transit Authority will be providing curb-to-curb bus service for qualifying riders beginning July 1. Previously, GTA had a contract with People for People for that bus service.
“We decided not to renew or update (the contract),” said GTA General Manager Eric Loomis. “We have the ability to bring it in-house.”
The transit authority is hiring drivers and buying seven new buses to provide the service, he said.
Madelyn Carlson, People for People chief executive officer, said people who use the agency’s paratransit access service shouldn’t see much change, if any.
“(Riders) just will be calling a different number,” she said.
People for People will continue to provide paratransit service for residents of Adams and Lincoln counties, Carlson said.
Loomis said paratransit service is available to people who have access to a regular bus route within three-quarters of a mile, but who have trouble getting to the bus stop. People who qualify for the service are picked up and driven to their destination, then back home.
Prospective riders must meet a set of qualifications and fill out an application. Trips must be scheduled at least a day in advance. Loomis said people can schedule a trip up to two weeks in advance.
People for People offers regular bus route service to and from Grant and Adams counties, offering access to Wenatchee and Tri-Cities. Some are offered Monday through Friday, others on specific weekdays and others by reservation. Carlson said all those services will continue.
“There isn’t going to be any loss in service,” she said.
A report submitted to GTA’s board of directors in March said the People for People service made 2,870 trips in February, with 5,887 for the first two months of the year. In February, about 68% of riders were ambulatory, with about 32% requiring lift assistance.
About 78% of the trips were in or around Moses Lake. Ephrata accounted for about 14% of the trips, and Quincy and George for about 5%.
Riders used the bus mostly for medical appointments (34%) or conducting personal business (34%), like visiting the bank or grocery shopping. People also used the bus for a ride to work, school or training. About 11% of the trips in February were for dialysis appointments.
ARTICLES BY CALEB PEREZ
Erickson looks back on a busy and successful four-sport high school career
WARDEN — A four-sport athlete is not someone you often come across due to the time and dedication it takes for success in one sport, but for Amaya Erickson, tackling that challenge was something she was up for in her senior season. “My family’s always been really big into sports,” said Erickson. “Both my parents have played and my siblings both play, so I guess they’re all a really great inspiration for me.”
Tigers start summer 3-1 after split with Sunnyside Christian
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tiger Baseball Club (3-1) finished their second matchup of the season as they split a doubleheader with Sunnyside Christian Tuesday evening. “I was pleased with a lot of aspects of the doubleheader,” said Tigers Head Coach David Tempel. “The summertime is all about development and getting some experience. The good part about (Tuesday) is we were in some different situations that we haven’t seen much, so we were able to learn from those and use those to our advantage.” Sunnyside was the first on the board during game one as they put up two runs in the top of the second inning. The Tigers responded at the bottom of the third as they put up five runs to claim the lead.
Fletcher named new Eagles volleyball head coach
SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Eagles volleyball team will be under new leadership this fall as Erin Fletcher has been selected as the new head coach. She is following the successful tenure of the previous head coach, Nikki Noble, who helped guide the team to multiple state appearances over the years. “I’m so excited,” said Fletcher. “I’ve had the opportunity to watch these girls play the last couple years as a (referee). I’m really excited to be able to step in after Coach Noble and continue on that winning and competitive spirit that they’ve had for so long and kind of take it now to the next level.” Her love for athletics came from growing up in an athletic family of basketball players, but in second grade, she became the first in her family to start playing volleyball. From there, a passion for volleyball began to grow.