Frederick County’s Taxi Access Program is adding a new provider beginning April 1.
KM Comfort Carriers will join Agniman Transportation, Bowie Transportation and Taxi Fiesta in providing TAP services to senior citizens who are at least 60 years old or people who have a disability.
“Similar to Transit and to a lot of other agencies where driving is a component of the job, it’s tough to get drivers,” Frederick County Deputy Director of Transit Services Jaime McKay said. “Our taxi program operators like Agniman, Bowie and Taxi Fiesta don’t always have as many staff available or rides available as we’d like. We had the opportunity to add an additional provider through KM Comfort Carriers, which has wheelchair accessible vans.”
Bowie Transportation also provides wheelchair accessible vehicles as part of TAP, according to the program’s website.
“We did have an opportunity to meet with [KM Comfort Carriers], to evaluate their vehicles and to get a sense of the type of customer service they provided,” McKay said. “We’re pleased, and we’re looking forward to April 1.”
Riders must be registered with Transit-Plus, the county’s no-cost curb-to-curb paratransit service, and have scheduled or attempted to schedule at least three Transit-Plus rides over a one-month period to use TAP.
Transit Services of Frederick County will directly contact riders who are eligible for TAP to enroll them in the service. Should riders opt in, they will be asked to provide photo identification and will receive a reloadable swipe card in the mail with taxi funds.
TAP provides riders a monthly allotment of subsidized taxi fare funds based on ZIP code.
Those in ZIP codes 21701, 21702 and 21703 receive $70 monthly, $60 of which is covered by the county and $10 paid by the rider.
Those in the rest of Frederick County receive $140 monthly, $120 of which is covered by the county and $20 paid by the rider.
Standard taxi fares in Frederick County start at $4, increasing $2 every mile. Eligible TAP users can book rides directly with all four providers. Same-day rides are available.
TAP aims to fill gaps in Transit-Plus coverage, as that program is only available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. TAP can only be used for rides in Frederick County.
Source: www.fredericknewspost.com
