Walnut's Dial-A-Cab Rates to Increase

A change in fares and who can ride is coming to the city of Walnut’s Dial-A-Cab program.

The Walnut City Council Wednesday night voted 5-0 to increase fares and restrict the program to seniors and the disabled.

Under the new fee rates, which go into effect in 30 days, those who use the taxi service would still pay $1 for trips within Walnut’s borders.  The rate for trips five miles outside the city will cost $3. 

Councilwoman Nancy Tragarz requested that the fee for trips to local hospitals and medical facilities up to 22 miles outside of the city go up to $3 from the $2 seniors and the disabled paid previously.  A ride to Ontario Airport will cost $5, up from $2.

The adjustment to the fares comes as Walnut has been grappling with budget overruns for the popular program.

The program gets an annual allocation of $350,000 in restricted Metropolitan Transit Authority Proposition A funds.  Walnut’s Dial-A-Cab’s cost overruns prompted the city council to appropriate an additional $4,000 in fiscal year 2011-12 from those funds and $20,000 for 2012-13, according to staff. 

Tapping additional Proposition A funds negatively affects other programs that also rely on that same pot of money, staff said.

The council also approved a list of special service area destinations, which includes hospitals and medical facilities frequented by Dial-A-Cab riders.  Those destinations have been popular with riders but never formally adopted by council resolution.