ADRC to Make Changes to The Bus Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:          Keri Olson, Interim Director
                      Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eagle Country – Baraboo/Sauk County 
                      (608) 355-4450; 
                      kolson@co.sauk.wi.us

ADRC TO MAKE CHANGES TO BUS PROGRAM

     BARABOO, WISCONSIN; August 14, 2014 -- The Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eagle Country/Sauk County (ADRC) announces that it will make changes to its transportation program this fall in order to improve service effectiveness and cost-efficiency.

     As of August 29, the ADRC will discontinue Blue Line #2 of its fixed-route, deviated-stop public transit bus system due to low ridership.

     On September 30, the ADRC will discontinue the entire fixed-route, deviated-stop public transit bus system due to low ridership and cost inefficiencies. 

     On October 1, the ADRC will begin a new, demand-response specialized transit bus program that will operate on weekdays by reservation only. The newly expanded service will include twice-weekly inter-community shopping and recreational activity buses within Sauk County, once-weekly “Fun-day Travels” one-day bus excursions for socialization, enrichment and education, a once-monthly shopping bus from Spring Green to Madison. 

     In response to a notification from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation about the cost inefficiencies of its public transit bus system, the ADRC began an in-depth study and analysis of the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of its entire transportation program in January 2014. As incremental changes to the program were proposed, three public input meetings were held in February, May and July. 

     As a result, the ADRC will coordinate a redesigned and expanded, multi-modal transportation program as of October 1, including the newly configured specialized transit bus service, “Fun-day Travels” one-day excursions, subsidized taxi punch cards in Baraboo, Reedsburg, Sauk City/Prairie du Sac and West Baraboo, and volunteer driver escorts for out-of-town medical appointments and other trips of necessity. While the program is designed to serve Sauk County adults age 60 and older and disabled adults, people of any age may ride the ADRC’s buses if space permits.

     The mission of the ADRC is to empower and support older adults, adults with disabilities and their families by providing easily accessible, quality information and assistance in support of each individual’s choice for independence and enhanced quality of life.

     For more information, contact the ADRC’s transportation line at (608) 355-3278.