New Vans Smooth Rides for Local Kids
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| BerkshireRides has added two vans to its fleet to serve local children. |
Funded by a three-year, $81,000 Northern Berkshire United Way grant, the two brand-new Toyota Sienna minivans have already hit the streets this week, taking kids to local youth programs.
"We were trying to resolve the issue of how to get kids to programs," said Jana Hunkler Brule, program manager, on Thursday evening as a gathering of invited guests waited for Richard J. Alcombright, president of the local United Way, to cut the red paper ribbon linking the vans at Western Gateway Heritage State Park. “I think they'll be out all the time."
The eight-passenger vans, soon to be joined by a 12-passenger vehicle, are the result of a 10-month cooperative effort between the YMCA, the Church Outreach to Youth Center, the North Adams Public Schools and the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.
Part of Transportation Association of Northern Berkshire, BerkshireRides' mission is to supplement bus routes by taking residents where and when the buses don't go for a nominal fee. In its five-year existence, the non-profit agency has provided more than 200,000 rides — taking people to work, to home, to appointments.<L2>
But one part of the population wasn't being well served — children who needed rides to after-school programs or to summer programs. It didn't make sense for each program to try to arrange transportation, said Brule. Instead, they came up with a way to share the vehicles under the aegis of BerkshireRides.
"What perfect sense it makes to have coordination of transportation effort for youth that takes advantage of the wide range of services offered by our affiliated agencies," said Alcombright, who also is a city councilor. "In my opinion, this effort is a poster child of how local, state and federal governments can come together efficiently and effectively to bring forward a program that benefits not only those in need but also the community that serves those people."
The vans have school bus lights and license plates that will allow them to pick up children from schools. The state also requires that the drivers are qualified to transport children. That means undergoing a criminal background, or CORI, check, passing physical and written exams and having a good driving record.
Brule said the participating agencies will provide the drivers but BerkshireRides will maintain the list of who is qualified to drive and oversee the schedule for the vans' use. The agencies also will pay a monthly fee for insurance and maintenance and top off the gas tanks after using the vans.
When not needed for kids, the vans will be recruited to help bring parents without transportation to school functions.
At the following reception, BerkshireRides took the opportunity to thank Candy Tripodes and Lori Pratt, owners of American Livery, for their commitment to TANB. The agency has used American Livery exclusively for the past three years. That's meant 60 to 70 hours of driving a day spread between four and sometimes five vans, said Candy and her husband, Edward Tripodes.<R3>
The company had considered trying to take on the added requirement of the school vans, said Edward Tripodes. "We had the desire but it would hurt our commitment to TANB." Candy Tripodes added, "We didn't want to lose our focus."
BerkshireRides are available 24 hours a day; it averages nearly 150 rides a day.
