Call-A-Ride obtains $90K federal funding

The CNMI Call-A-Ride Program has finally seen the light with the help of a federal grant through the CNMI Public School System.

Thomas J. Camacho, special assistant for disability policy and programs, announced during Friday’s news briefing at the Governor’s Office the allocation of $90,000 as financial assistance to the program by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration.

PSS Commissioner of Education Rita H. Inos had written CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities director Antonio C. Chong early last month that PSS was able to secure federal funding for the program, after being asked to secure the grant by vice speaker Justo Quitugua and other representatives of the Governor’s Office.

“We will include the Call-A-ride Program subsidy as a subcomponent of our Federal Transit Administration Block Grant,” said Inos, adding that the Central Office would provide a subsidy of up to $90,000 to help support the program.

Camacho immediately wrote to Chong relaying the good news to his office.

“As we spoke and agreed, the funding was awarded to the CNMI CDD so that such funds will be made available to financially support the annual operation of the system through a subcontract or MOA or MOU,” Camacho said.

He said the long-term solution to the problem would now be addressed with the help of PSS. Camacho met with the central office in mid-February and was pleased to have the office’s cooperation and assistance.

Camacho said the Workforce Investment Agency is now providing three attendants and drivers for the Call-A-Ride program. At the moment, WIA is shouldering the expenses incurred in hiring and maintaining the trainees.

Camacho said that, with the new funding, the program would hopefully be able to absorb the trainees and hire them as permanent Call-A-Ride van operators. This will completely do away with the delays in the pick-up of passengers.

“Our goal now is to acquire the FTA grant [$90,000] every year,” said Camacho. “Our citizens with disabilities and their families can now find some relief, comfort, reliance and dependence toward the Call-A-Ride system, all because of concerted efforts between this administration, congressman Quitugua and PSS.”

The Call-A-Ride Program is currently with the Developmental Disabilities Council.

Camacho said the council would temporarily continue the program’s operations until the office bids out the entire operations to a private entity. He said whichever company wins the bid would receive the FTA funding for the Call-A-Ride operations.