CITY MAY DROP FARE DISABLED MAY RIDE BUS FREE.

Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Disabled residents will be able to ride the Glendale Beeline buses for free in the future if the City Council approves an agreement tonight with Access Services Inc.

Under a contract with the nonprofit regional paratransit provider, Glendale would be reimbursed for the free rides. Currently, seniors and the disabled pay 15 cents per ride.

Mark Maloney, transportation and parking services supervisor for Glendale, said all Beeline buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts.

ASI spokeswoman Barbara Lupro said there are 860 residents in Glendale who are certified as disabled by her agency and eligible for free rides. Of that number, Lupro expects about 5 percent will take advantage of the free rides. Maloney projects Beeline revenue will increase by $200 a year.

``There are a lot of people who prefer to just go to the bus stop when they know the bus is going to be there,'' she said. ``It's another option.''

Currently, ASI provides curb-to-curb service to 46,000 disabled residents throughout Los Angeles County, using vans and cab vouchers. Riders have to call in advance to arrange the rides and don't always get service at the time they want it.

Rides average $25.74 each for the agency.

With service demands growing, ASI is hoping that diverting riders to fixed-route transit would help the agency stay within budget.

``The program is growing. We are projecting in future years that the demand may exceed the funding,'' Lupro said.

In the last six months, ASI saw its demands jump 15 to 20 percent. Currently, ASI already has similar agreements with Monterey Park, Norwalk, Carson, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, West Hollywood, Azusa and Foothill Transit (serving La Canada-Flintridge, San Gabriel and Pasadena).