 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 15 * August 9, 1999 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story Hats off to … County Transportation Programs
Free Public Transportation for Jurors To make jury duty more accessible and hassle-free, the San Diego County Superior Court entered into a partnership with the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) to introduce and encourage jurors to use mass transit for downtown jury duty. Planning for this partnership began in June 1996 and was initiated in December 1996. During juror orientation, mass transit options are discussed. A transit information display including system and route maps and schedules is installed in the juror assembly room. Jurors are provided with a free ticket for use on any mass transit system in the county. During the two years of the program, mass transit options were described to 70,000 jurors, of which 66 percent, or 46,000 people, took advantage of the free trip program. The program has been so successful, that in April of this year, the county expanded the program to three other court locations and now provides public transportation costs for jurors.
This circumstance makes a cohesive public transportation system difficult to run in a cost-effective manner. Following the termination of an unsuccessful pilot public transportation program, the county tried something new. In 1998, the York County Board of Supervisors established a Transportation Grant Program to assist agencies with service populations that have special transportation needs. In FY98, the initial year of the program, grants of $2,500 were awarded to four local agencies. In FY99, the program was fully funded and each agency received $5,000. Prior to the funds being distributed, agencies are required to submit one-page applications describing how the funds will be used. At the completion of the fiscal year, each funded agency is required to submit a report on the year’s activities. The program has been very successful in filling the gaps in existing transportation services as well as providing a mechanism for the administration and cost-effectiveness of providing transportation services.
With the senior population expected to double by the year 2010, the Somerset Medical Center, along with the Somerset County Division of Transportation and Office on Aging, met to discuss this problem. As a result of this meeting, the County Board of Chosen Freeholders decided to join with the Medical Center to improve transportation for seniors through a "Good Health Bus." The Good Health Bus increases transportation options for elderly and disabled residents in the most cost-effective way possible with the least duplication of services. Through a partnership with a local corporate sponsor, the National Starch and Chemical Corporation, an accessible bus was purchased. Through a contract with Somerset County, Somerset Medical Center pays the salary and benefits for a forty hour per week county driver. Somerset County provides the scheduling, dispatching, maintenance and insurance costs of operating the bus and the program for the hospital. Service is by advance reservation through the Division of Transportation and is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Good Health Bus has been an immediate success, with an average 150 trips per month. Total first year costs were approximately $104,000, including capital costs of $65,000 for the bus, $33,000 for salary and $6,000 for insurance and miscellaneous costs. Programs described in "Hats off" are winners of 1999 NACo Achievement Awards. For more information on these programs, contact the NACo Research Division at 202/393-6226. (Hats Off was compiled by Peggy Beardslee, research associate.) |