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Dial-A-Ride celebrates one year anniversary

Meet the folks that have kept the Dial-A-Ride Program a success for the past year. The federally funded transit service has been a great help to senior citizens and the disabled of American Samoa. See story for full details.  [photo: BC]
blue@samoanews.com

It’s been a year since the Dial-A-Ride Program was introduced to the local community and the progress has been nothing less than successful.

Last Thursday, the Dial-A-Ride Program staff celebrated the one year anniversary since the federally funded transit service was established in American Samoa.

Based at the Department of Public Works (DPW) compound in Tafuna, the Dial-A-Ride Program has grown to serve a clientele of nearly 400 local residents, including individuals with disabilities and the elderly population.

According to program supervisor Laupule Tilei, the program is available all over the United States and Hawai’i, and thanks to funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), it is now available not only in Tutuila, but also in Ta’u, Manu’a.

Program coordinator Adelle Tilei-Fenumia’i says the long term goal is to have the program extend its services to Ofu and Olosega.

Currently, the Dial-A-Ride program has a fleet of four vans and three buses. At first, some of the vehicles were lent out to local agencies including the Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA) and the Vocational Rehabilitation (VocRehab) Office, but the service wasn’t being utilized to its fullest extent so a decision was made to bring all the vehicles back to the program’s main office at DPW.

Those who are 60 years old and older, including individuals with disabilities are eligible for the service. People who are stroke victims, limited to the use of a wheelchair, blind, or paralyzed are welcomed to apply for a “Rider Identification Card” which allows them to use the Dial-A-Ride service.

A staff of 17 people, under the watch of program manager Cathy Faoa Danielson, ensures that the calls for service are answered, and all clients are tended to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Tilei explained that at first, the service was free of charge. But since some of the clients live in areas with poor road conditions, it was decided – with approval from the grantor – that clients will be charged $1 per trip. The money collected from the fares goes towards helping maintain the vehicles.

One escort or family member is permitted to ride for free with a paying passenger, but a second escort will be charged $1.

Interested individuals are required to present a valid identification card and fill out an application at the Dial-A-Ride main office in Tafuna. The turn- around period for approval is usually 24 hours.

Once a Rider ID is issued, clients are able to use the service right away.

The program is available for eligible individuals all over the island, no matter the distance.

Tilei-Fenumia’i explained that the majority of errands that need to be tackled are usually within the scope of their service. These include appointments at the LBJ Medical Center, dialysis treatments, visits to the Social Security Administration office, the grocery store, and picking up food stamps from the DHSS ASNAP Office.

She added that some of their disabled clients are young – including a child from Hope House at Fatuoaiga - and Dial-A-Ride is able to provide them with transportation to and from school.

For an added sense of security, those who want to sign up their parents or disabled family members should feel at ease, as all the drivers for the program are well versed in administering first aid and all are CPR certified.

More information on the program and its requirements can be obtained by calling 699-5357/5367 or stopping by their office at the DPW compound in Tafuna during normal business hours.

Happy One Year Anniversary Dial-A-Ride!