The Nevada County Transit Services Commission at their meeting March 20 could change the shape of how paratransit services are provided in the county. For 13 years Gold Country Telecare has had the contract to provide services for people with mobility issues to get to their doctors appoitments, shopping or work. Telecare is a non profit and owns the buses used to provide service. According to Gold Country Telecare Board President Rick Hansen a recent Request For Proposals to provide the service was so, in his words, poorly written, Gold Country Telecare did not bid on it. The only company to successfully bid on the contract is Paratransit Services out of Bremerton Washington.
Hanson says the only successful bidder is requiring changes to the terms. Hanson says Gold Country Telecare would like to see the RFP re-advertised.
Nevada County Public Works Director Steve Castleberry who oversees transit services says , Paratransit Services came out on top of the two bids already submitted. The website for Paratransit Services says they are “one of the largest Transportation and Interpreter Services brokers in Washington State, and also operate accessible public transit systems in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.”
click to hear Steve Castleberry
The contract with Gold Country Telecare will expire on June 30th.
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