Wash. paratransit tightens disabled rider screening

LONGVIEW, Wash. — The demand for paratransit service in the Longview-Kelso area has soared 44% in the last five years, and at the beginning of this year, paratransit ridership hit a record high, RiverCities Transit officials told The Daily News Online.

To address the issue, the transit authority hired a new mobility manager, who has been tasked with screening paratransit applicants, calling doctors with follow-up questions to determine ridership eligibility, and developing a travel training program to transition some riders from paratransit to fixed-route buses. For the full story, click here.