RATS:  On the road to expansion

By KRISTI WILLIAMS

About eleven years ago, Joan Manley, a disabled woman in Rockbridge County, saw an opportunity for change. She noticed that the community was lacking a transportation system that catered to those with disabilities.

Rockbridge Area Transportation System is the result of the project she began. Armed with a fleet of ten vehicles, RATS drivers now take their clients to a variety of destinations, some including out-of-town medical facilities. However, while performing a consistent, long-standing service to the community, RATS Executive Director Tim Roots admits that the organization's financial stability is questionable.

"We are a day-to-day hand-to-mouth operation," Roots said.  "It wouldn't take too much of a problem to put us in serious financial jeopardy."

RATS receives half of its funding from Medicaid and the other half from grants, fundraising, and rider fees. The community makes generous contributions, such as Washington and Lee's donation of two computers, but the program is still not on solid ground.

In order to ensure a more stable future for RATS, Roots has proposed an expansion plan. He envisions a system that would resemble public transportation in other rural areas.

Three years down the road, Roots has a vision of four twelve-passenger vans or buses with wheel chair capabilities, circulating throughout Lexington with several trips to Buena Vista. His plan includes maintaining the existing program for handicapped riders.

The new RATS would attract a more diverse clientele with different methods of accessing the vehicles.

"Those would be available for anyone to just flag down and hop on, or wait at a bus stop, or call and ask for a ride," said Roots.

Financial stability would come from the state and local government subsidizing the RATS operating costs, as well as continued community support. And what's good for RATS is good for the riders.

At four dollars per ride, RATS' current fee is less than a taxi cab fare. But driver Terri Demarest said it's still too much for riders on a limited income.

"They can't afford four dollars to go to the grocery store or four dollars to go to the doctor," said Demarest.  "They're on a limited income and...trying desperately to stay over water as it is."

According to Roots, the new program would significantly reduce user fees making rides more feasible to the public.

Roots said the current RATS services have a powerful impact on the community, although there's still room for improvement. According to RATS driver Madge McIntyre, the program is in desperate need of new vehicles, and encourages support from the community. Office Manager Michelle Roberts explained that not enough drivers and vehicles could be detrimental to those in need.

"We have people that are cancer patients that absolutely have to get to their appointments for radiation...we have older people that have broken bones...we have dialysis patients," said Roberts. "You don't want to turn these away."

Roots is confident that his detailed proposals to the state and local government will eventually result in the development of his master plan. He looks forward to future improvements but also realizes that the service that RATS provides for the community's elderly and disabled, was just what the doctor ordered.