By REBECCA SHALOMOFF
The State Department of Transportation has made its recommendations to the federal government for the distribution of approximately $5.4 million to help various non-profit organizations across the state move forward with the purchase of new buses.
The new buses will be used to provide transportation services for elderly persons and persons with disabilities throughout New York State, including at Franklin Hospital Medical Center in Valley Stream, Greater Five Towns YM & YWHA in Cedarhurst, and South Shore Y, JCC of Nassau County in Oceanside.
"These funds will make it easier and more convenient for the elderly and disabled to get access to jobs, medical care, shopping and recreational activities," said Governor George Pataki, who made the announcements. "This program is an important part of our efforts to improve transportation for all New Yorkers."
The recommendations for the 77 grantees throughout the state will be submitted to the federal government, and they will simply approve the requests, according to Michael Fleischer, DOT spokesperson. Federal funds will cover 80 percent of the cost of new buses, most of which will be handicapped-accessible, and the organizations will have to fund the rest.
The organizations will also have to supply a driver and be responsible for the maintenance of the buses.
"We've been writing this grant for years," said Sheryl Smith, South Shore Y, JCC associate executive director. "We have a large elderly population. As of now, we have a very old van to transport seniors [that is not handicapped-accessible]. It's been a struggle for them to get here. The new bus will enable more people who need handicapped access."
Ms. Smith said her organization will have to set up a fundraiser in order to collect funds to pay for 20 percent of the cost of the single bus not covered by the Federal government.
This program is administered by the DOT on behalf of the Federal Transit Administration. Once applications were received from local agencies that serve the elderly and disabled, they were reviewed by DOT and other state agencies, and in communities where it was applicable, by the 12 metropolitan planning organizations throughout the state.
"We look forward to [the bus]. It's an answer to help with our expansion plans, which we would wish for," said Bruce Beaver, spokesperson at Franklin Hospital Medical Center.
Cathy Byrne, director of Five Towns YM & YWHA, said, "We are delighted because it's designed for elderly and disabled. There is a tremendous need. We run a social daycare program [the Come Alive Group] that meets two times a week at [Congregation] Sons of Israel, and transportation is always an issue."
Ms. Byrne said that the addition of two new buses will enable different programs with the group, such as trips to the museum, beach and Broadway shows.
The buses will also be used for the Elderly Russian Program and the Elderly ESL Program, according to Mary Sheffield, program coordinator at Five Towns Y. She said, "We will expand our program to meet more needs of the growing elderly population."
Barclay Durant, a member of the Come Alive Group, said, "We look forward to being here. We wouldn't have been able to get here without a bus."
Approval of the state's submission is expected at the end of this calendar year. In anticipation of program approval, DOT has notified the recommended applicants of their status. The applicants may then continue to pursue any and all administrative requirements, pending ultimate approval from the Federal Transit Administration. Buses will be ordered early next year and deliveries are expected through the summer and fall of next year.
