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Council approves changes to senior 'Bridal‑A‑Taxi' program to rein in costs
Summary
Council approved staff recommendations to cap rides at 10 per month, preserve $5 per‑ride fees, drop rarely used satellite destinations (including discounted John Wayne Airport trips), and add a San Clemente DMV stop to keep the senior mobility program within Measure M2 funding.
The City Council voted Feb. 24 to adjust Mission Viejo’s senior mobility program (Bridal‑A‑Taxi) as the current contract expires in June and usage has grown sharply since the pandemic.
Community Services Supervisor Melanie McGrane told council that participants rose from 972 in 2019 to more than 3,000 in 2025 and that rides jumped from 3,598 in 2019 to a "staggering number in 2025 of 14,064 rides." She presented recommendations from the senior leadership committee: a 10‑ride per month cap per participant, retention of the $5 per‑ride fee, discontinuation of rarely used satellite destinations (including several social service sites) and ending the discounted John Wayne Airport trips to save roughly $90,000 a year. Staff also proposed adding the San Clemente DMV as a satellite for a $10 fare.
Council members discussed the data and potential pushback on ending airport service; the motion to adopt the proposed changes passed unanimously. Staff said the modifications are intended to preserve the program’s core transportation for the most frail seniors while steering frequent users to alternative providers (senior services, OC ACCESS) and to keep the program within Measure M2 funding.
