Petersburg works on reliable transportation for senior citizens after influx of calls for help
PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) — City leaders in Petersburg are trying to improve the way that their senior citizens get around. They have launched a new transit initiative and now, they need to hear from residents. Petersburg Area Transit (PAT) is working on expanding its services to better serve seniors, who lack reliable access to transportation. City leaders launched a new survey online on Oct. 24 that will help them figure out where and how their services are needed the most. This Petersburg Transit Modernization Initiative comes after transit officials said that the city's emergency medical transportation services have been inundated with “non-emergency” calls from their largest demographic -- senior citizens. Darius Mason, the director of Petersburg Mass Transit, said that senior citizens and disabled people make up about 70% of the city's population. “An individual can call and say, 'I've fallen, I’m sick' -- we don't consider these 911 calls," Mason said. "And that's a burden on the EMT and on the radio traffic or whatnot. This is something that paratransit can easily offset, to make it easier for all.” With this new system in place, residents will be able to call a special number and get connected with a reliable ride to health care offices and other places. “Once they realize there's a service that they can call if they need to get to the doctor, if they feel sick -- it's another number they can call versus 911," Mason said. "I think they will take advantage of it." Mason said that the bus service typically sees around 700 trips each day. Once this new service is rolled out, he believes that number will more than double. The new initiative for Petersburg Area Transit has been in the works for the past couple of years and is currently in phase one. Mason said that leaders' next step will be to present their findings from the survey to Petersburg City Council. Over the next several weeks, leaders will be gathering input from residents and using data from the survey to figure out how to move into the next phase. The final day for residents to weigh in on the survey is Dec. 1. It can be filled out online or in person at the Petersburg city bus station.
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PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) — City leaders in Petersburg are trying to improve the way that their senior citizens get around. They have launched a new transit initiative and now, they need to hear from residents.
Petersburg Area Transit (PAT) is working on expanding its services to better serve seniors, who lack reliable access to transportation.
City leaders launched a new survey online on Oct. 24 that will help them figure out where and how their services are needed the most.
This Petersburg Transit Modernization Initiative comes after transit officials said that the city's emergency medical transportation services have been inundated with “non-emergency” calls from their largest demographic -- senior citizens.
Darius Mason, the director of Petersburg Mass Transit, said that senior citizens and disabled people make up about 70% of the city's population.
“An individual can call and say, 'I've fallen, I’m sick' -- we don't consider these 911 calls," Mason said. "And that's a burden on the EMT and on the radio traffic or whatnot. This is something that paratransit can easily offset, to make it easier for all.”
With this new system in place, residents will be able to call a special number and get connected with a reliable ride to health care offices and other places.
“Once they realize there's a service that they can call if they need to get to the doctor, if they feel sick -- it's another number they can call versus 911," Mason said. "I think they will take advantage of it."
Mason said that the bus service typically sees around 700 trips each day. Once this new service is rolled out, he believes that number will more than double.
The new initiative for Petersburg Area Transit has been in the works for the past couple of years and is currently in phase one. Mason said that leaders' next step will be to present their findings from the survey to Petersburg City Council.
Over the next several weeks, leaders will be gathering input from residents and using data from the survey to figure out how to move into the next phase.
The final day for residents to weigh in on the survey is Dec. 1. It can be filled out online or in person at the Petersburg city bus station.
