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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2016
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Rebecca Cheng, Sam Marksheid, and Vicki DiStefano | (516) 869-7794
North Hempstead to Offer Free & Discounted Taxi Rides for Residents with Disabilities
North Hempstead, NY – Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth, the Town Board and the North Hempstead Disability Advisory Committee are pleased to announce that the Town has partnered with local taxi companies to offer free and discounted taxi trips to residents with disabilities. The local law was approved unanimously at the Town Board’s December 13 meeting.
This program is an expansion of the Project Independence transportation program which was originally implemented in 2009 to offer seniors discounted or free taxi rides. Beginning in January 2017, residents with a disability who are 21 and over will be eligible for free taxi rides for grocery shopping trips and discounted taxi rides for medical appointments. These transportation programs are funded in part from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council New Freedom funds via the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration.
“The Town along with our Disability Advisory Committee is always looking for new ways to reach out and assist our residents with disabilities. Together we came up with the idea to expand our taxi ride program. We hope that by including residents with disabilities we will be able to better assist our residents,” said Supervisor Judi Bosworth.
Larry Greenstein, a Disabilities Advisory Committee member from Port Washington said, “I am proud to live in a Town that recognizes the transportation challenges that many people with disabilities face and has found a cost effective way to support them. I applaud Supervisor Bosworth and the Town Board for taking this step in helping people with disabilities live dignified, self-directed lives in the community”
To be approved, residents with disabilities would provide a copy/picture of an Able-Ride or Access-A-Ride card, or a letter that shows acceptance in one of these services. Able Ride provides accessible service for destinations in Long Island, and Access-A-Ride provides service to NYC destinations. Once registered, residents may reserve their taxi trip by calling 311 or (516) 869-6311 at least one day in advance. Please note that residents looking to utilize this service must be able to ride in a taxi, and if traveling with a wheelchair or walker, it must be able to fold and fit into the trunk. Please note that the Town will not be conducting their own medical review or certification process.
Supervisor Bosworth, who has a strong continued commitment to people with disabilities, created the Disability Advisory Committee this year to advise the Town on issues pertaining to those with disabilities. The taxi ride program is one of the initiatives to come out of that committee.
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Members of the Disabilities Advisory Committee at recent meeting.
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Kevin Greenstein speaks with North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth about the new taxi service for individuals with disabilities. Kevin’s Father, Larry, is a member of the Town’s Disabilities Advisory Committee.