Commissioners press for service guarantees as Gainesville moves to insource paratransit; MB Transportation offers interim proposals

Alachua County commissioners and staff pressed for firm plans on continuity of transportation-disadvantaged and paratransit service after the City of Gainesville announced it will insource paratransit operations to the regional transit authority (RTS). MB Transportation, the current provider for most paratransit and transportation-disadvantaged trips in the county, told the board it is working on options to continue service and will return with cost estimates at the board—s next meeting.

The issue: The city has said it plans to transfer paratransit service into RTS with a target start in March of next year. County staff and MB Transportation warned that transition could create a service gap for unincorporated residents and smaller municipalities who rely on transportation-disadvantaged (TD) point-to-point trips, many for medical appointments. County staff said the state provides roughly $525,000 annually for the TD program and the county contributes about $191,000; that grant…