Special Transportation Advisory Committee seeks public comment

The Benton County Special Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC) is providing an opportunity for public comment regarding several Benton County Special Service Provider projects.

The projects proposed for 2019-2021 fiscal biennium funding from the Federal §5310 Discretionary Grant program and the State of Oregon Special Transportation Fund program follow:

• Albany Paratransit/Call-a-Ride: $11,000 to operate transit service for seniors and persons with disabilities
• City of Adair Village: $25,071 to operate transit service for seniors and persons with disabilities 
• City of Albany/Linn-Benton Loop: $47,000 to operate Linn-Benton Loop transit service, for the cost of riders who are seniors and persons with disabilities
• Grace Center for Adult Day Services: $6,500 to operate transit service for seniors and persons with disabilities
• Mental Health Association of Benton County, Janus House: $9,600 to operate transit service for seniors and persons with disabilities
• OCWCOG Senior and Disability Services: $7,000 to operate transit service for seniors and persons with disabilities
• OCWCOG Senior Companion Services: $7,000 to operate transit service for seniors and persons with disabilities

Additionally, the STAC is proposing that $588,473 in statewide and small urban funding, apportioned to Benton County from the Federal §5310 Mobility for the Elderly and Persons With Disabilities Grant program; and $328,968 in funding apportioned to Benton County from the State of Oregon Special Transportation Fund (STF) program be allocated to the county's existing countywide Special Transportation Program. The Special Transportation Program provides ADA-accessible paratransit and demand response transportation services throughout Benton County.

The STAC is also supporting the County’s intent to dedicate $252,312 in Federal Rural General Public Transit funding to operation of the County’s two rural transit services, the 99 Express between Adair Village and Corvallis, and the Coast to Valley Express between Corvallis and Newport. The County currently contracts with Dial a Bus, Inc., a non-profit agency, to provide both special and rural transportation services.

The STAC invites comments on the proposed projects by sending a written response by 3:00pm on Friday, February 2, 2019, to lee.lazaro@corvallisoregon.gov or via postal mail to Lee Lazaro, Benton County Special Transportation Program, Special Transportation Coordinator, P.O. Box 1083 Corvallis, OR 97339.