To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Transportation Cards for Community Members with Disabilities
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to purchase on behalf of the Health Services Director, up to 400 UberWAV cards each with a $25 value totaling $10,000 and 400 Clipper cards each with a $22 to $25 value, plus processing fees of up to $1,200 totaling $10,000 for a total amount not to exceed $20,000, to support community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the period of January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This $20,000 expenditure will be funded by the Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Many individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in East Contra Costa County face significant transportation challenges. Using the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) IDD prevalence rate of 1.5%, we estimate there are 1,650 individuals with IDD in Antioch, 1,080 in Pittsburg, and 360 in Bay Point.
Despite available ADA paratransit services many IDD individuals face barriers such as stringent eligibility criteria and service limitations. These transportation challenges limit access to healthcare, community activities, employment, and education, reducing the quality of life for IDD individuals. The IDD Transit Access Program aims to provide transit cards for both public transportation and ride-sharing services, addressing these critical needs and enhancing the independence and well-being of this vulnerable population.
Providing a mix of UberWAV and Clipper cards will offer flexible, reliable transportation options tailored to diverse needs. This initiative addresses the gap in accessible and convenient transportation services for those who do not qualify for existing para-transit services or find them unreliable. This program will support the IDD community by distributing transit cards through the existing Specialty Health Ambassador Program during a variety of community engagement events.
The Health Services Department Ambassador program received a $20,000 grant from the Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund to provide up to 800 transit cards to community members with IDD who live in the Keller Canyon Mitigation Area. There are no fees or additional costs for UberWAV cards. Clipper cards have a $3 fee per card, but the program may be eligible for a waiver of this fee. Transit cards will be purchased in bulk and distributed through June 30, 2026.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the department will not be able to utilize funding specifically allocated for transportation options addressing the needs and existing disparities of IDD clients. The inability to provide this support may negatively impact the effectiveness of the Specialty Health Ambassador Program to connect with community members, raise awareness of IDD-related challenges, and support client access to healthcare, education, employment, and social inclusion.