DART Seeks New WellTrans Partnership, Faces Three-Vehicle Recall; Commissioners Approve Quarterly Invoice
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Summary
DeKalb Area Rural Transit (DART) reported a pending agreement with WellTrans to restore Medicaid nonemergency trips, plans school-transport routes, and said three vans are grounded by a safety airbag recall; commissioners signed the quarter invoice.
DeKalb Area Rural Transit reported progress on restoring nonemergency medical transportation and routine fleet and marketing items at the Aug. 4 commissioners meeting.
Nut graf: DART’s manager said she has nearly completed an agreement with WellTrans that would restore Medicaid clients lost in 2024 and would operate alongside the county’s existing contractor. DART also signed a private-school trip contract to add regular monthly trips and is pursuing grant funding to add color and decals to county-owned vans.
Fleet problem and operations: DART said three fleet vans are currently sidelined after INDOT determined a safety recall affecting front passenger airbags prevents the vehicles’ use for revenue service. Managers told the board other counties are similarly impacted and that the recall is in litigation between manufacturers and dealers; DART will wait for a resolution and said the loss of three vehicles constrains routing and maintenance schedules.
Other items: Commissioners approved signing DART’s second-quarter invoice. DART said it sold one van in July and continues to recruit drivers; staff also plan a marketing update (vehicle decals) contingent on grant funding.
Board action and next steps: Commissioners authorized the quarterly invoice; DART will return with updates on the WellTrans contract, recall resolution and grant requests.