SANDAG, FACT launched on-demand wheelchair-accessible service
By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and Facilitating Access to Coordinated Transportation (FACT) representatives June 21 were joined by local community members to celebrate the launch of RideFACTNow, a new and first-of-its-kind on-demand specialized transportation service in the San Diego region.
The new on-demand service is for people using mobility devices, including wheelchairs, and will operate on a same-day basis with a maximum one-hour response time.
“RideFACTNow is a vital lifeline for our communities with mobility challenges so they can connect to the places they need and want to go in a timely manner,” said SANDAG Chairwoman Nora Vargas. “SANDAG is committed to investing in accessible transportation for all, and today is proof that removing economic and physical barriers paves the way for new viable transit options that improve the quality of life for a historically underserved community.”
The SANDAG Access for All Grant Program awarded $2.5 million to FACT to fund RideFACTNow. The program aims to support projects and programs that expand on-demand wheelchair-accessible vehicle services for individuals in the San Diego region with mobility limitations.
“The new RideFACTNow service is very much needed, especially in Chula Vista and South Bay,” said Mayor John McCann. “This service will open opportunities for seniors and the disabled, two communities often isolated by their lack of mobility. I’m pleased to celebrate this important new benefit for our senior and disabled neighbors.”
Since 2008, SANDAG has distributed over $62 million to specialized transportation projects making it easier for people to live and work in the San Diego County region. The agency’s Specialized Transportation programs have funded more than 170 vehicles which have provided 100,000 one-way passenger trips per year.
