New, larger Dial-A-Bus opens doors to more riders

Scott Swanson

Linn Shuttle’s new Dial-a-Bus van will open doors for people who might have had trouble using the service in the past, Ken Bronson says.

Bronson, who directs the shuttle service operations out of the Sweet Home Senior Center, said the new 11-passenger Ford Transit van is bigger and better-equipped for disabled riders than the old Dodge Caravan the service has been using since 2011.

The $65,000 gasoline-powered van was funded by a Federal Transportation Authority Section 5339 grant that provides capital funding for public transit. Bronson said he actually applied for the grant 18 months before the van arrived on March 31.

The goal behind the grant application, he said, was to “right-size” the shuttle van.

“Since 75 percent of our Dial-a-Bus riders are elderly or diabled, the way our (Dodge) van is configured, the floor made it difficult for wheelchair or multi-use. It didn’t do either one of them well.”

Plus, the old van had 98,000 miles on it when he applied. The ODOT standard for “useful life” on vans used in public transit is 100,000 miles. The Dodge now has about 140,000 miles, he said, noting that the shuttle service will keep it.

The new van is a Class B vehicle, whereas the Dodge was Class C, he said. “It’s bigger. I just spec’ed it out.”

The new van has seats that are easily movable and a lift, rather than a ramp, on the back for wheelchairs.

“That changes the whole integrity of the machine,” Bronson said.

It also has tracks in the floor, so seats can be adjusted and positioned as necessary.

“We can roll them around and secure them. We can change the position of a seat in 30 seconds.”

In the first week of operation, the van’s been a hit, he said.

“Drivers love it. Passengers really appreciate the ease. All around, everything works a lot better.”

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