Phoenix Offers Taxi Voucher Pilot Program

Phoenix — The Phoenix Public Transit Department is launching a new pilot taxi voucher program for Phoenix seniors aged 65 and over on Dec 2. 

Called Senior Cab, the program allows senior citizens to purchase prepaid vouchers at a discount, which they can use to schedule short-distance cab trips. 

Senior Cab was developed at the request of the Phoenix City Council, which asked the Public Transit Department to explore alternative modes of transporting seniors, as Dial-A-Ride has become increasingly in-demand for Americans With Disabilities Act-certified users with disabilities, and increasingly unavailable to seniors who use the service.

“We know, especially in Phoenix, that our seniors are active and interested in taking charge of their own lives,” said Debbie Cotton, Public Transit Department Director.  “We wanted to find an innovative way to let our senior citizens continue to travel the way they want.  This pilot program is a small step forward in that direction.”

The Senior Cab program will test a different model of transporting older riders, giving approximately 300-400 people a chance to see how the service works.

Cab voucher programs are already used by Phoenix Public Transit to support work trips for people with disabilities, and dialysis visits for passengers undergoing treatment.  Senior Cab allows seniors more flexibility in transportation, letting them schedule trips in the same way they would arrange for a typical taxi ride.

Program participants can buy $10-voucher books, which sell at 30 percent of their value, or $3 apiece; participants can buy a maximum of $12 to receive $40 worth of taxi vouchers monthly.  The vouchers can be used for the entire trip, combined with cash fares to travel further, or banked over several months for a longer trip.  Riders are responsible for their own gratuity in the program. 

The 19-month pilot program is funded by the City of Phoenix and New Freedom funding from the Federal Transit Administration.  People who use the taxi subsidy program will be provided with pre-printed vouchers, and can make appointments with any taxicab company Valley-wide. 

The Senior Cab pilot program is operated by City of Phoenix transit contractor MV Transportation.  To get more information about the taxi subsidy program, call MV Transportation at 602-801-1164 or 602-801-1163.

For more information about public transportation, people with questions should call Valley Metro at 602-253-5000, or visit www.valleymetro.org.   

                                                                      ###