RTA
TO SEEK NEW DIAL-A-RIDE CONTRACTOR
The
Riverside Transit Agency announced
today that it will replace its
current Dial-A-Ride contractor,
MV Transportation, Inc., at the
end of the year.
RTA
Chairman Jim Ayres said the decision
was based on contractor data errors
in required on-time performance
reports at the local Riverside
division that were uncovered
during an RTA audit in September
2005, and the contractor’s request
not to extend the agreement beyond
its current term, which is set
to expire December 31, 2005.
When RTA discovered the problems,
MV Transportation management
immediately
and fully cooperated with the
RTA and undertook an internal
investigation, which has resulted
in correction of the errors.
With
the contract expiration, RTA is
preparing to seek a new
Dial-A-Ride vendor to replace
MV Transportation on April 1,
2006. In the interim, MV Transportation
will continue to provide Dial-A-Ride
service and assist in the transition
to the new contractor. MV Transportation
will also provide RTA $1 million
for expenses and increased costs
for putting the service out to
bid.
RTA
officials said the integrity of
the Dial-A-Ride service
will not be jeopardized as the
Agency seeks out a new contractor.
RTA has changed contractors in
previous years, most recently
in January 2004 when MV Transportation
began operating RTA’s Dial-A-Ride
service, and during those changes,
the Agency did not experience
any signifi cant service disruptions
or customer service problems.
As has occurred in the past,
RTA is anticipating the new contractor
will utilize many of MV Transportation’s
current Dial-A-Ride staff and
drivers who are familiar with
RTA’s passengers and the service
area.
RTA
officials said that
a Request for Proposals for a
new contractor is being finalized
and will be released shortly.
Ayres
said, “I want to express
our board’s appreciation to our
staff for uncovering these errors
and protecting our riders who
use Dial-A-Ride. RTA will continue
to provide this valuable service
to our citizens.”
The
Riverside
Transit Agency provides public
transportation for Western
Riverside
County, operating 38 fixed
routes,
5 commuter routes and 15 demand
response services. RTA’s service
area spans 2,500 square miles,
the second-largest in the nation.
For bus route and schedule
information
contact RTA at (800) 8007821
or log on to our Web site at
www.RiversideTransit.com. |
