Gamal Dirar plans to jump on the chance to apply for a city grant to help him buy another accessible van for his taxi companies if the Columbia City Council goes along with City Manager Mike Matthes' suggestion that it provide $50,000 in next year's budget for such a program.
During a Wednesday work session, the council discussed the potential grants to help taxi companies buy wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The money would come from a pot of cash the council has to work with from savings in fiscal year 2016.
The idea for the grants came from the city's Disabilities Commission, which says there are few options for residents with disabilities to get accessible transportation.
The city’s Para-transit Service only operates until 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and isn’t in service on Sundays. Riders also must schedule their trips in advance.
Three taxi companies — Dirar's JJ's Taxi and 5Star Taxi, along with ABC Taxi — have accessible vehicles now. JJ's has offered the service since it began business in 2012. Dirar has two accessible vans and hopes to add a third, but the cost makes it difficult.
Dirar said insurance for both vans costs him more than $1,000 a month. Repairs and inspections are also expensive because the vehicles are aging. Wheelchair lifts can cost up to $1,400 to fix and are less efficient than the ramps newer vehicles feature. Given the opportunity and funding, he said, he would buy a new van or fix up the ones he has.
“It’s my dream to have those vans," Dirar said. "If I had two of those, I’d be the best company in town.”
Dirar said he uses the vans during emergencies to give free rides to people with mobility impairments, and he pays his drivers out of his own pocket. Sometimes he even drives people himself, even if they can't afford the fare.
He said he has a passion for helping Columbia residents because the city gave him everything he needed to get to where he is today. He had nothing when he moved to the U.S. from Sudan but now has a business degree and owns two companies.
It's important that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else, Dirar said. “They have to be treated like human beings."
The proposed grant program is part of the proposed city budget for fiscal year 2018, which begins Oct. 1. The council will have its second and third public hearings on the budget at its Sept. 5 and Sept. 18 meetings, respectively.
The council hasn't yet approved the program, and there are no details about how the $50,000 might be allocated to cab companies.
Disabilities Commission Chairman Chuck Graham said he was pleased to see progress on the grant idea, yet frustrated that the city manager has not contacted him about it. His original proposal called for the city to offer two grants of $10,000 each year.
“I have a lot of confidence in the mayor and the City Council on this issue,” Graham said, adding that he hopes taxi companies will step forward and apply for the money to buy new vans that can be used by anyone.
“We’re lucky to be able to get JJ’s… and if they’re gone, then you might not be able to get a ride that day,” Graham said.
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