Big Bend is a non profit transportation company that has contracts with the TDC for non sponsored and medicade trips. Due to the current money problems Big Bend will take you any where with in the city for $5 each way and I think in the county for $12 each way. This is much better than the cab but you have to call Big Bend directly and by a certain time for next day service.
Robert----- Original Message ----- From: "Blackjack" <misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:05 PM Subject: [tabi] Re: Fw: Nova2010: If you think it won't matter to you
Hi, where does Big bend come in at and just what kind of service do they offer and what kind of paid service do they offer? I just wonder if they could be used as a alternative? Also how about taxies? I know their mightnot be any free stuff or low amount of payments but how about a write off onyour taxes if for medical I know it could be claimed under that. But howabout work and grocery stores and such? Could this be taken off your taxes?Thanks, Blackjack misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx -----Original Message-----From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On BehalfOf Easy Talk Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 11:54 AM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [tabi] Fw: Nova2010: If you think it won't matter to you ----- Original Message ----- From: <ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <easytalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 11:28 AM Subject: Re: Nova2010: If you think it won't matter to youRobert, Would you mind posting to TABI, or mind if I do? I had absolutely no idea how the 3 systems were connected, interdependent, and funded. Thanks for spelling this out for me. Although I think lots of folks "know" this, I'm not sure they've connected the dots so clearly. Thank you so much! Erica -----Original Message----- From: Easy Talk <easytalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tue, Oct 6, 2009 4:07 pm Subject: Re: Nova2010: If you think it won't matter to you Hi Erica, You go girl! I would like to point out the reality of some of the things you spoke about and maybe help people really understand the reality of what will most likely happen. In Leon county and Tallahassee there are 3 forms of public transportation. Two of them are the fixed bus system and Dial A ride. Think of the fixed bus system as the center circle and the smallest. Think of Dial A Ride as a system that operates 3 quarters of a mile out side of the center which is covered by the fixed route/bus system. Both of these services are dependent on each other and funded by federal dollars and the city. Dial A ride is given federal dollars based on compliance of federal guidelines that only require them to provide service to the Disabled, elderly and economically disadvantaged. Dial A Ride doesn't get paid for each trip they make. They are paid quarterly based on the service provided by the fixed route system and the coverage of the fixed route system. The third system is the state/county service of the TDC which does get paid by the trip and operates any where the other two systems do not cover. For instance if you live at the governors mansion and want to go to the Bradford Ville Blues club, you would have to use the third option. The third option also covers medicade trips that aren't covered by the first two options. This service is the one that is in most cases not available since they currently only provide rides for medical and work. So what we are dealing with regarding the decentralization of Starmetro is, If you make the center circle/fixed system smaller then you also reduce the Dial A ride service since federal guidelines control the coverage out side the fixed route. I know some people have posted here that Dial A ride provided more coverage than the federal law requires but in 20 years here in Tallahassee, it hasn't happened to me or anyone else I know. Even if they did, unless it was in writing as a city disability policy, I wouldn't bank on it based on my experience. Believe me if they did, it would be the first thing to go. Hell, FCB can't even meet in city hall which as a tax payer, I helped pay for. It doesn't surprise me that Tallahassee would push for this since as we all know most of the bus stops in neighborhoods aren't accessible and also most of the current stops aren't either. By shrinking the coverage area, just think of the money the city will save. Robert ----- Original Message ----- From: <ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 2:48 PM Subject: Nova2010: If you think it won't matter to youI'm going to put this out here for all ears to hear once, and onlyonce.If you ride the bus, change-- not necessarily good-- is comin' Youhaveopportunities to possibly stop this change, or at least make it less inconvenient and dangerous for you or other riders. See below fordetailson how you can get your questions answered and make your voice heard. If you DON'T ride the bus, you may think, "So what?" Here's what: With the current centralized system, virtually alltransfersare made downtown IN A SINGLE SAFE, CONTROLLED, PREDICTABLE, COVERED, ACCESSIBLE location. With the newly proposed decentralized system,90+% oftransfers will be made on NUMBEROUS STREET CORNERS WITH OR WITHOUTTHEBENEFIT OF SIDEWALKS, FLAT TERRAIN, SHELTER, or any form ofASSISTANCE;with (but probably without) the aid of audible crosswalksignals,visiblecrosswalks, protective medians, and accessible signage. CERTAINLYtherewill be no "ticket person" or supervisor on hand to aid you, nor will there be law enforcement nearby, should someone other than the bus approach you on the side of the road. You can imagine that it is possible that some folks who feelcomfortableriding the bus now will no long feel this way. When these folks stop riding the fixed bus system, where do you think they will turn for transportation?? Dial-a-Ride. So how well is Dial-a-Ride able to meet everyone's needs now? Aretherescheduling difficulties? Is there enough money to keep the systemgoing?Can anyone who's accepted ride for any purpose, or is prioritization occurring already? If you think Dial-a-Ride is crowded, stretched, or stressed NOW, imagine how it will fare when even more people comelookingfor a seat. And, to the best I've been able to discern from the non-answers I've gotten from StarMetro personnel at the listening sessions I'veattended,NO, THERE IS NO MONEY SET ASIDE FROM STARMETRO TO BOLSTERDial-a-Ride.Neither have I been assured that there is money from StarMetro or any other department specifically set aside for the improvements neededtomake this a safe system, such as: 1. traffic controlling devices (protective medians, repaintedcrosswalks,cameras to record or extra law enforcement to ticket red lightrunners,reworked light signals to include arrows for turners and ample timeforpedestrian crossings, etc.) 2. amenities to make the stops and transfer points safe andaccessible(culverts over ditches, wide and flat sidewalks with curb cuts, removal/relocation of poles, low branches, etc., adequate lightingandsignage-- remember, from November thru March it gets dark well before 6:00pm). Also, any stop that does NOT include a shelter NEED NOT BEA.D.A.accessible; StarMetro has only 30 shelters for this project (and mayusesome existing ones), but there are AT LEAST 20 intersections one must navigate in order to fully use this network, and, ideally, each intersection would have at least 2 sheltered stops!!! StarMetro has not even hired an A.D.A. consultant yet. That is how concerned they are. And still, if you are not concerned, think about the proverbiallittle oldladies coming back from the pharmacy on the bus. Surely you've seen(or atleast heard of) them. How will they manage??? HOW TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: You can attend a listening session: * Tue 10/6 / City Hall in the Tallahassee Room, 300 South AdamsStreet, 12noon - 1 pm & 5:30 - 7:00 pm * Wed 10/7 / Leroy Collins Public Library, 200 West Park Avenue, 12 > noon - 1:00 pm * Thur 10/8 / Atkins Building in Koger Office Center, 1320 Executive Center Drive, 7:00 - 8:00 pm * Wed. 10/14 2:00 PM Meeting room, Miccosukee Hills Apartments,3201Miccosukee Road, Route 4- first bus stop after interning complex. * Wed. 10/14 / Leroy Collins Public Library, 200 West Park Avenue,5:30 -7:00 pm * Thur 10/22 / Northeast Branch Library, 5513 Thomasville Road, 5:30 -7:00 pm* Tue 10/27 / B.L. Perry Jr. Branch Library, 2817 South Adams Street, 11:30 am - 1 pm & 5:30 - 7:00 pm or call starmetro at 891-5283 or email them at nova2010project@xxxxxxxxxx Thank you for your consideration on this matter. Erica McCaulCheck out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI and please make suggestions for new material. if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org webinterface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABIand please make suggestions for new material.if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI and please make suggestions for new material. if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
