City of Olathe Taxi Coupon Voucher Program

1. City of Olathe Taxi Coupon Voucher Program

2. Creation of Program – Now and Then • Seniors verbalized need for affordable, dependable and safe transportation system at Council Meeting in 1977 • City Council has funded program annually. • Current investment from city • $296,000 from General Funds • Provides and maintains wheelchair vehicles • Staff to administer program.

3. Demographics of Olathe, Kansas • Population 122,000 • Median Income 61,000 • 7,352 out of 32,275 have incomes under $35,000. 23% of households • Located 17 miles southwest of Kansas City Metro area • Fastest growing city in Kansas - 150 years young • Approximately 13% of citizens are frail elderly and disabled. • 11% of citizens are disabled. • No mass transit system in Olathe. Limited fixed route is available.

4. Overview of Olathe’s Program • Three components of program • Work Trips – To reach place of employment or job preparation classes • Medical Trips – Doctors or picking up Rx • General Transportation Trips (i.e. Grocery Shopping) • Contract with local taxi company/ies to provide a door to door service. Reimburse them $12.00 for every voucher submitted for reimbursement. • City provides wheelchair accessible vehicles to contractor/s

5. Participant Guidelines • $2.50 for a one-way trip • Rides within City of Olathe boundaries • General transportation is limited to 20 one-way trips per month • Number of Work and/or Medical trips are unlimited • Eligibility Requirements • Work – Must have income under 80% of Median Income for area. • Seniors and Disabled – No income limits

6. Characteristics of Program Participants • Mobility limited – Physical, illness or developmental disability • Financial – Unable to purchase and/or maintain a dependable vehicle • Self-Imposed Limitations – Choose not to own or drive vehicle (weather)

7. Benefits to Participants • Obtain and maintain employment • Reduces reliance on family or friends • Improves quality of life • Keeps citizens from being homebound • Extension of living in an independent setting

8. Annual Usage

9. Number of Program Participants

10. Lessons Learned • Recruitment of taxi companies • Marketing of service • Service employers not willing to adjust schedules of employees to adapt to transportation schedules. • Limits citizens from working or reaching training and/or medical appointments outside city boundaries • Not dependent on one source of funding • Utilize technology to reduce manual processing of vouchers • Coordination of services among transportation providers • Keep process simple for participants • Communication with developers and planners to ensure new construction addresses mobility issues for potential employees and customers • Meet the needs of our changing population

11. Metro vs. Rural • Program could be reciprocated in rural area. • Utilize volunteers, not-for-profit agencies or churches as providers instead of taxi companies • Be creative when it comes to funding options. Look beyond federal (JARC and New Freedom), state and local govt. funds • Wheelchair vehicles could be purchased through federal grants • Involve your employers in the planning process • Coordination between cities and counties • Sliding fee scale depending on income and trip destination

12. QUESTIONS CONTACT: KATHY RANKIN CITY OF OLATHE 913-971-6260 KRANKIN@OLATHEKS.ORG www.olatheks.org