Van Rides May Be Privatized

Van services for senior citizens and the disabled would be put in private hands under a proposal that Orange County transit leaders say could save more than $1 million each year.

The Access program lets users make appointments for van transportation that takes them door-to-door. Privatizing van services, which costs roughly $17 million a year, would also lead to better service, concedes a spokesman the Orange County Transportation Authority.

“It frees [nearly] $1.5 million a year that can be spent to provide more services overall,” John Standiford said. “Also, it creates a lot of operational efficiency that should improve services.”

At least one transportation official questioned whether service would deteriorate if removed from county control. Greg Winterbottom, who uses a wheelchair, questioned whether a private firm would have the same stake in ensuring quality service. The transit agency has an obligation to make sure users receive on-time, clean, well-maintained vans, he said.

Currently, a private firm shares responsibility for van services with the county, but authorities believe that arrangement has provided inadequate service.

Two alternatives for privatization were presented at a committee meeting Thursday. One would turn the program over to a single provider, a move said to save $15.82 million over five years. The other would split services between two companies, saving $6.35 million.

Although a single private contractor would save the most money, transit policy forbids relying solely on one contractor because it would be too risky in case of a service failure or other emergency. The committee recommended reconsidering this rule.

Transportation officials will debate the proposal and a vote could come as early as Aug. 9.

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Gloria Caballero, a 29-year-old Anaheim resident with cerebral palsy, said privatizing the van service may improve it. Caballero, who uses an electronic wheelchair, said the current service can be burdensome, including limits on making appointments more than seven days in advance.

“It would be better because if it was a private service, we as consumers would have more of say as to what goes and what doesn’t,” she said. “I feel like we would have more of a voice.”

There are 14,000 disabled people in Orange County who have signed up for the service mandated by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, said Monte Ward, manager of special projects. Transportation officials don’t keep track of how many senior citizens, commuters and others use van services that would also be privatized under the proposal.

Transit officials said more information is needed before they can make a decision.

“If it pencils out that [privatization] can provide adequate service for lesser money, I’m anxious to hear about it. But the general feeling [at the committee meeting] was that perhaps we didn’t have all the information that would lead to a sound decision,” said county Supervisor Cynthia P. Coad, a member of the Orange County Transportation Authority’s board of directors.

“The bottom line is [that] more complete information is needed,” Winterbottom said. “This is a $100-million decision and we have got to make the right one. It affects a lot of riders, and affects riders who are the least able to speak out in their own defense.”

Several neighboring counties, including San Diego and Los Angeles, use private companies to handle all or part of their programs for the disabled.

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Taking Vans Private?

This summer, the Orange County Transportation Authority will decide whether turn over its van services to private contractors. The vans primarily serve disabled people and seniors. The estimated in-house cost to operate the vans over the next five years is $108.5 million. Costs and savings projections under two alternate plans:

Proposal #1

Separate services for seniors and disabled

$102.15 million

Savings: $6.35 million

Proposal #2

Combined service for seniors and disabled

$92.68 million

Savings: $15.82 million

Note: Five-year figures include partial first year from Nov. 1 to June 30, 2000.

Source: Orange County Transit Authority