What's been happening with the T-GAP program which was announced by governor Pawlenty on March 12th? Where's the T-GAP money going? Who will it help? Will some still not get the help they need? The March 12th press release on the Metro Council website announced: that "$100,000 per week would fund the T-GAP program to provide 'life-sustaining purpose,' such as medical services, work groceries or other purposes. Agencies will have discretion under T-GAP to determine and arrange the best means of transportation for the clients, including vans, taxis or other means." A few days later, funding of up to $10,000 a week was made available for Dial-A-Ride programs. On March 19th funding was announced for schools to get their students who rely on Metro Transit to school. Metro Mobility's funding was increased to $200,000. T-Gap funding seems to be for agencies/organizations that already provide transportation services to their clients and may enable them to provide services to some new clients...but how many? Will T-GAP funded organizations buy new vehicles? Be open evenings and weekends? Hire new staff to answer phones, fill out paperwork, coordinate rides? Hire and train new drivers? Here's the list of T-Gap participants which I requested from the Metro-Council today. The agency name, address, phone number, maximum grant amount, rides per week and cost per ride are listed. (this is a summary) Jehohvah Jireh Church of God (Brooklyn Center) T-GAP= $500 Rides= 50 Urban Initiatives (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $389 Rides= 43 Centre for Asians and Pacific Islanders (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $1794 Rides= 460 Proj. Foundation Homeaway (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $1680 Rides= 140 Opportunity Partners (Minnetonka) T-GAP= $1861 Rides= 350 Midwest Special Services (St. Paul) T-GAP= $1462 Rides= 450 Lifeworks Services (Mendota Heights) T-GAP= $2672 Rides= 694 Access Ability (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $1512 Rides= 360 Metro Hope Ministries (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $125 Rides=25 Tasks Unlimited (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $7395 Rides= 750 RISE Inc (Spring Lake Park) T-GAP= $4035 Rides= 500 Pillsbury United (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $3475 Rides= 650 Indian Family Services (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $250 Rides= 50 So.Metro Human Service (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $240 Rides= 20 Oasis of Love/Agape (Minneapolis) T-GAP= $1190 Rides= 600 Mn Acad of Technology (St. Paul) Rides= $1200 Rides= 160 This list does not include the Dial-A-Ride services, which were listed in the Star Tribune: Anoka County Traveler Northeast Surburban Transit - serving North St. Paul, Maplewood and Oakdale Prism-serving Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal, Brooklyn Center and New Hope Although the Met Council data center sent me this information, they were reluctant to release it for fear that the agencies would be "so inundated with calls they decline to participate." While this may happen, doesn't it defeat the purpose of the T-GAP program if few people know about it?...or is the decision not to publicize the list of T-GAP funded organizations a way of underplaying the reality that this strike HAS had a serious negative impact and will continue to? What about the people who do not qualify to be clients of these organizations, or who need emergency transportation? Ramsey County Commissioners responded to this need on March 16th, by approving, up to $150,000 for emergency transportation services to human services and child care clients. Will Hennepin County allocate any funds to respond to this need? Madeline Douglass Kingfield (Mpls)
REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
