HandyDART trips to increase by 85,000 in 2017, says TransLink

TransLinkhas put in place another changeas part of what it calls its 10-year plan to ease congestion and improve transit service in Metro Vancouver.

On Monday, it announced it will add 85,500 HandyDART trips in 2017.

HandyDARTisa door-to-door, shared ride service for passengers with physical or cognitive disabilities who are unable to use conventional public transit without assistance.

"We know that HandyDART is so much more than just moving individuals from point A to point B," said Tim Louis, co-chair of the HandyDARTRiders' Alliance.

"If somebody gets a trip turned down, they are homebound for the day.They are sentenced to house arrest."

Louissays the increase in service will help people with mobility issues better access the workforce and volunteer opportunities in their communities.

'Neighbourhood made stronger'

'When people are in their community, making use of goods and services, we all benefit the neighbourhood is made stronger."

Currently, HandyDART makes 1.2 million trips each year and has 23,000 people registered with the service, said CEO Kevin Desmond.

The budget for the service in 2017 is closeto $52 million, an increase of $2.4 million over 2016.

"Over the next three years, additional investments in HandyDART outlined in phase one of the "Vision" will add a total of 171,000 more trips per year," TransLink said in a statement.

"[That represents], a 15 per cent increase in service availability."

Still, Desmond says taxi service will continue to make up part of HandyDART. He says calling cabs to get people around when other ways aren't available makes up 10 per cent of trips.

"It needs to be part of the service," he said.

In January, the authority launched SkyTrain and SeaBus improvements which include:

• An 11 per cent increase in passenger capacity during peak periods on the Canada Line.
• Extended weekday peak-hour serviceand increased midday and early evening service on weekends on the Expo and Millennium Lines.
• Doubled SeaBus service on Sundays and holidays to sailings every 15 minutes from 10a.m. to 7p.m.

TransLink is expected to roll out expanded bus services across the region in April.

• Metro Vancouver mayors approve $2B transit improvement plan
• TransLink reveals plans for Broadway SkyTrain, Surrey LRT
• TransLink to add 28 new SkyTrain cars by 2019

with files from RaffertyBaker.