City may buy buses for handicap

Disabled residents may soon find an easier way to travel in Lake Havasu City as a motion will go forward Tuesday’s meeting of the Lake Havasu City Council to purchase two wheelchair accessible minivans.

The two Braun Entervans would help cut Havasu Area Transit’s fuel cost by half, making the cost savings for the vehicles around $13,500 for fuel. Each vehicle can get around 15 miles per gallon.

“Just the gas savings alone makes the purchase worth it,” Transit Manager Gary Parsons said. “This makes a big difference in our budget.”

Both vehicles are El Dorado handicap conversion vans that feature lower floors and a jump seat.

The vans should provide ADA residents better curb-to-curb access. Parsons said a common issue with the eight-passenger buses was getting up driveways. The vans will allow for drivers to pull right up into a resident’s driveway.

Parsons also noted both vans would be equipped with a quick pop-out ramp, which would allow for wheelchairs to be loaded in half the time as before.

The two vehicles will cost the city $83,580. However, the Federal Transit Administration awarded HAT a 5311 grant of $72,297, making the ultimate cost for the city $11,283. Parsons said the vehicles would essentially pay for themselves within the first year.

The vans are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities act. Residents must be certified as disabled in order to ride, or be seniors 65 or older. But, Parsons said they would offer ridership to people who live three quarter miles away from any of HAT’s fixed routes.

HAT is replacing two aging eight-passenger cutaway buses purchased in 2004.

The purchase of the two vans comes after Arizona Bus Sales of Phoenix, entered into a contract agreement with Havasu Area Transit.

Initially, the vans were awarded to Arizona Bus Sales of Phoenix from the City of Phoenix.

Parsons said HAT looks to eventually replace more vehicles, although he did say HAT would keep a few of the eight-passenger buses for events such as the Special Olympics.

Parsons hopes to have the two new vans running by March 2009.

Council could also vote Tuesday for an amendment approving striping and re-striping parking lots in Lake Havasu City.

The vote comes after months of discussion concerning updating parking lot standards to be in compliance with the ADA act.

If passed, the amendment would establish Lake Havasu City as the primary enforcement agency for ADA parking standards for parking lots installed and approved prior to the enactment of the ADA standards in 1992. It also would require all old parking lots not in compliance with ADA standards to update requirements when applying for a new permit. However, if a lot were in compliance with signage and striping, the pursuant would not be required to apply for a new permit when applying fresh paint.

In other business:

• The Canyon Oak Area Sewer Project is part of the overall sewer expansion project. Tuesday, council may accept a current lowest bid for connecting properties in the Canyon Oak area to the sewer mainlines from SJL Construction, LLC out of Phoenix. SJL Construction’s contract with the city would not exceed $7,338, 125.

• Council could vote for changes to Phase II of the London Bridge Beach Seawall Tuesday. Parks & Recreation is recommending council vote to extend the construction of the wall 200 linear feet toward London Bridge Beach.

A change in the alignment of the seawall has already caused a need to remove parts of the existing sidewalk along the channel area. Parks & Recreation is investigating the construction of a new replacement sidewalk, which could already be covered by the SLIF grant received for the project.

The City Council meeting will take place tonight at 6 p.m. inside the council chambers at the Police Facility. A Special Meeting of the city council precedes the regular meeting at 5 p.m.

You may contact the reporter at twaggoner@havasunews.com.

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