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Laguna Hills updates senior mobility (Dial‑A‑Taxi) program; staff to seek contract and service-area expansions
Summary
City staff reported on the Dial‑A‑Taxi senior mobility program’s operations, survey results and finances; the council directed staff to pursue contract procurement and explore service-area expansion and fare models as existing vendor contracts come up for renewal.
City staff provided an update on the Laguna Hills senior mobility program, known as Dial‑A‑Taxi, including usage, partner agreements, funding and potential expansion options.
Administrative assistant Jessica Cardenas, who administers the program, reported the service is restricted to Laguna Hills residents 60 and older and operates 24/7 with sedans and wheelchair-accessible vans across Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods and Mission Viejo, with satellite pickup locations in Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Lake Forest. Cardenas reported roughly 594 members (transcript: "5 94 members"), a recent promotion that waived copays for May and June, and an 86-response survey that found most riders use the program once or twice a month and cited medical appointments and John Wayne Airport travel as primary reasons for trips.
Cadenas (transcript: Cardenas/Cardenas) said the program’s partners are the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and Orange County Yellow Cooperative (OC YC); OC YC’s current services agreement is expiring and the city will go out to bid for the next contract. She said OCTA cooperative agreement funding through Measure M SMP will continue and that federal/state funding rules and OCTA audit requirements apply. Staff reported FY 24–25 SMP funding expected to be approximately $50,000 with projected spending of roughly $40,000; the city matches 20% of annual program expenditures. Staff plans to use survey feedback to expand the service area, evaluate the fee schedule (including potential fares to new destinations such as LAX), and coordinate with OC YC to address driver reliability and dispatch communication.
Council discussion emphasized keeping SMP funds in the program while they are available, the feasibility of expanding destinations (LAX was discussed as a possible addition and ranked among requested destinations), and outreach to senior-living communities. No council action was required for this update; councilors requested staff return with contract documents and options for potential expansion when contracts are due.
