CCPT Dilemma: Reduce Or Eliminate Rural Paratransit

Clinton County Planning Technician James Bosley (standing) refers to a map with dots marking the pickup points for riders using the CCPT rural paratransit service.

© 2015 Luke T. Bush

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY – Sept. 26, 2015

A person in the disabled community who can’t get to work. A kidney dialysis patient unable to travel to his life-sustaining treatment.

Both live in the countryside with no friends, family or neighbors who can provide a ride. The only option: the CCPT (Clinton County Public Transportation) paratransit service outside the greater Plattsburgh City area.

The county has two choices with this service: reduction or elimination. Due to aging buses breaking down -- half of the fleet out of service for repairs -- the system can’t be maintained as it is now. Paratransit provides service to riders who lived outside the fixed bus routes.

A recent meeting of the Coordinated Transportation – Human Services Committee discussed possible stop gaps so – as County Legislator Harry McManus said – that “no one would fall through the cracks.” Coordinated by James Bosley, Planning Technician and Rodney Brown, Planning Director/ADA Coordinator, various community agency representatives heard and shared proposed solutions.

Clinton County Planning Director Rodney Brown explains
how the CCPT bus fleet ended up in rough shape.

So how did CCPT get into this situation?

That was the question posed by one man sitting in the section reserved for the public.

Ire evident in his tone he said: “How can anyone here accept that fifty percent of the [bus] fleet is down? The industry [average] is six percent.”

Rodney explained the factors. First, the buses had seen a lot of miles. Second, due to the long wait with receiving governmental grants the money can come in after the fleet is in bad shape.

Even with funds available there is still a wait to get a new bus.

Rodney said: “It isn’t like buying a new car.”

Unlike a customer who could buy a car off the dealership lot, he continued, each bus has to be built to particular specifications.

Rodney mentioned how the lack of buses has affected CCPT.

"I had to go out,” he said, “to the bus shelter outside the county building a couple of weeks ago to tell the people waiting for the Ausable run at 4:25 [PM] that we weren’t able to make the run.” That bus was needed for paratransit.

“Ten people,” he continued, ”had to wait until 6:10 for the last bus to Ausable.”

Advocate Debra Buell discusses the rights of the disabled community regarding public transportation.

There was discussion how paratransit service changes would affect the disabled community.

Robert Poulin, Director of NCCI (North Country Center for Independence) said his agency encourages client participation in the community. For some this means holding a job. No transportation to work means job loss.

“When transportation is gone,” he said, “that takes the wind out of the sails. They start to believe there is no point to go back to work [after] surmounting every barrier just to fall back, to start over again.” These clients just give up.

Advocate Debra Buell was also concerned about people in the disability community who lived off the main bus routes. People using the rural paratransit service should be informed about any changes.

She said: “I support the county in partially reducing the [rural paratransit] service until the CCPT system is healthy again.” She favored a partial reduction in service by using flex routes or by scheduling deviations off the fixed routes. Deviations are allowed up to three-quarters of a mile.

Being in ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance has been difficult for CCPT with its rural service, said James, because of the extensive area the system tries to cover.

Referring to a large map of the county he explained there is an ADA regulation that only allows one hour to pick up a patient. But that requirement can’t be met with two riders at the opposite ends of the county; the distances are too great.

One solution might be a zone system, covering part of the county on certain days. Also doctors scheduling patients the same day would help.

These possible solutions and others will be discussed at a public meeting on Tuesday, September 29 from noon to 1 PM, first floor conference room, Clinton County Government Center. Public input is welcome.

Tyke Dogs GIant

Putting the G.I. in giant.

Downtown Mandala

Cloud River

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Stan Ransom, Dulcimerist

Bloom On Black

Bully On The Bus

© 2015 Luke T. Bush

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY – Sept. 5, 2015

Did you ever have one of those days when you think humanity could use a good culling?

I have a cull list for miscreants who should be exiled on an isolated island.  This would greatly benefit mankind at large.  At the top of my list: bullies.

Let me introduce someone I will call Mr. Yellalot, a bus driver.   Give a bully a bit of authority and watch him exploit it.

How to describe Yellalot?

 

Imagine Ralph Kramden with rabies.

Or the Hulk without the charm.

My first incident with Yellalot was over my senior pass.  I showed it the first time I boarded the bus.  When I took the bus a second time he told me I had to show my pass again -- even though he recognized me.

I asked if I had to show my pass every time I boarded (no other driver required this.)

Yellalot snapped at me.  He barked that I had to show it every time.  I wondered if he was reacting that way because his butt still smarted from his distemper shot.  (A professional poodle cut would have done wonders for his appearance.  Plus a nail clipping.)

All of my gray hair didn't indicate my senior status?  If Mr. Yellalot was a bouncer at a bar he would refuse entry to Betty White because she looked like a preteen.  I can envision how Betty would react.

Now understand Yellalot isn't in bully mode all of the time.  He acts normal enough until he encounters a person he thinks perfect for rough riding, someone who appears easily intimidated.

That control freak rage always simmers under his facade.

The second incident happened some time later, involving a disagreement over a fare charge.  No other driver added this second fare.

Apparently he had forgotten about doing that Nazi thing with me showing my official papers.  Maybe he left his jackboots at home.

Mr. Yellalot had a new issue to press.  As soon as I boarded the bus he brought up a gray area with the fare.  He also directed his command at another passenger, a woman in the same situation, to pay the extra fare.

On the way back to the bus stop Yellalot repeated his order a couple of times, applying pressure to make me cower before his godlike magnificence.

I didn’t play along.

At the bus stop Yellalot escalated the situation into a heated conflict.  He became angry when I told him that no other driver required the extra fare and that I would contact his boss.

He reared up from his seat and stood near where I sat.  Leaning forward he roared: You have to pay the fare! After I had asked three times he revealed his name, only his first name.

I still declined to pay.

The other passenger kept quiet, the poor woman probably scared shitless by the bus driver’s psycho demeanor.

The irony: I would have paid the fare if Yellalot didn’t act like a personality-impaired thug.

Ask, don’t demand.

Don’t bully.

Especially if you’re serving the public.

Art Cycle

Tails

Hot Sunset

Prez Wins, Glacier Loses

Is it fair when your opponent is melting?

 (Click on image for larger view.)

(Press Republican, Page A8, Weds. September 2, 2015)