ESC creating program to provide free rides

Dec. 14—A program that would provide free transportation in a four-county area of Southwest Missouri is being planned by the Economic Security Corp. to launch in May.

CARS, which stands for Community Action Ride System, will seek volunteer drivers and pay them mileage to provide the rides. Anyone could obtain a free ride, regardless of income.

Cavanaugh Studyvin, community organizer for the ESC, and Ryan Peterson, CEO of the community action agency, announced the plan Thursday.

Studyvin said the idea came from community needs assessments and focus group input in the counties served by the agency: Barton, Jasper, Newton and McDonald.

The ESC offers 30 programs, including case management to help people become more self-reliant, Head Start education, housing and housing development, energy bill assistance, energy audits and weatherization for low-income households. Last year, the agency served more than 12,000 people in the four counties.

Peterson said transportation was named as one of the top five needs of area residents. More than half those who participated in focus groups earlier this year said they cannot afford the cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle, and do not have access to public transportation. Three-fourths said they could not afford insurance for a vehicle. Car insurance averages $1,400 a year, Studyvin said.

Riders will not be required to pay for the rides, but they can tip the drivers if they choose. The ESC program will pay drivers the federal mileage rate of 65.5 cents per mile. ESC will use federal grants, state funds, business sponsorships and donations to fund the program.

The advantage is that people in need of a ride can put in a request in advance but do not have to wait at a trolley stop for a bus, Studyvin said. She said this type of program is being operated in other areas of Missouri.

Organizers expect the program not only to be a boost to people who need transportation and drivers who could earn some extra money, but also to help put more people in the workforce who don't have transportation now and help employers recruit and retain workers.

Examples of those who could benefit are people who need to get to medical appointments and back home, college students and foreign exchange students to get to campuses, Studyvin said.

The local United Way organization will partner with the ESC program in Missouri by providing an online sign-up for volunteers through the "Unite Us" Care Partner Network, said Duane Dreiling, executive director.

"The thing about United Way is it is good at uniting volunteers," Dreiling said.

There will be training for the volunteers. They must have full coverage insurance. Background checks will be done on applicants, and they will have to provide proof of car insurance. There will be rules of conduct and rules of the road taught during training.

Numerous details are still being worked out to provide the program.

Organizers said they will provide car seats for children, but they have to be accompanied by an adult who must be able to put the car seat in the volunteer's vehicle for liability reasons.

They hope to offer rides around the clock all days of the week if volunteers are available. The drivers will determine when they want to work and how far they are willing to travel.

A software program for transportation programs will be used to schedule the rides and drivers. It will allow reports to be made about difficult passengers, and those riders will be flagged in the system for service refusal. Drivers also could be reported for misconduct.

The volunteers will be able to go online and designate the ride requests they wish to take.

Peterson said the opportunity is suitable for people on Social Security and disability because the pay does not count as income, only as mileage reimbursement.

More information will be made available to the public as the program is developed further.

The ESC is looking for businesses that need rides for employees and would be willing to provide donations and businesses that could sponsor the program. To do so, call the ESC at 417-627-2084.