R2001-114 AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION

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• � �I CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS `� I! PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION I This project involves the purchase of two, raised-roof, wheelchair lift equipped vans to ' supplement the Transit System's ADA complementary paratransit program for the handicapped/ disabled. No vehicles will be replaced by the purchase of two new ADA paratransit vans. The ' present fleet of four vans will be expanded to six vans, with five vans listed as active(four needed for peak period demand and one as a spare) and one van listed as inactive- contingency reserve. The City provides the required complementary ADA paratransit service for the handicapped/ disabled by contracting with two local taxicab companies and by operating its own small fleet of wheelchair lift equipped vans. In 1999 the City operated only two vans. Both vehicles were required to operate everyday to meet the demand; there were no surplus vehicles. If either van were disabled, the City had to bring a 1991 mini-bus out of reserve to meet the demand. By the ' end of that yeaz, the City took delivery of two new vans and put them into service immediately. Very shortly after that, demand grew to the point where three vans were required for peak demand, leaving only one van as spare. Today, demand for paratransit transportation has risen to the point that four vans are often required to meet the demand. Once again, if any van is disabled or in the shop for routine maintenance, then the City may need to use a 1991 mini-bus to replace it. Since demand for paratransit transportation continues to grow,it is obvious that the City's fleet of four vans will soon be unable to keep up. The City's two older vans are 1993 Ford E-350 raised-roof vans with over 130,000 miles on each. These vehicles are in fair condition,but they require frequent maintenance to keep them in service. This makes the older vans much more expensive to operate per mile than the newer vans. Due to this, the newer vans are used as much as possible, and one of the 1993 vans has been held back as a spaze whenever possible. However, as demand has grown it has not been � possible to hold back any of the vans as spares. The addition of two new vans would allow the two older(1993)vans to be held back-one as a spare and one as a reserve. This would ensure that the City's ADA paratransit program is always able to meet the demand for service, and it would also reduce the fuel,parts, and maintenance expenses of the City. DISPOSITION SCHEDULE No vehicles will be replaced by the purchase of two new ADA paratransit vans. The present fleet of four vans will be expanded to six vans, with five vans listed as active (four needed for peak period demand and one as a spare) and one van listed as inactive- contingency reserve.