City provides free, early morning transportation option for seniors

Starting Monday, March 30, 2020, and continuing until further notice, Turlock Transit will expand its reservation-based Dial-a-Ride service to start two hours earlier each operating day (Monday-Saturday). This extension, offered exclusively for senior citizens (65+ years old), will allow them to schedule door-to-door trips between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., as well as provide the opportunity to take advantage of “senior only” shopping hours for essential goods at local businesses.

One-way trips or roundtrips that begin during these extended hours (7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) will be provided at no cost to the passenger.    Seniors would remain eligible to use the service after 9:00 a.m. as well, though it would no longer be exclusive to seniors at that point.  Reservations will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Seating will be limited to ensure the appropriate social distancing separation between individuals at all times.  Reservations can be made for essential trips as soon as the next day and as late as 14 days out.

The intent of this change is to minimize the negative impacts of fixed route service reductions implemented on March 21, 2020.  Those fixed route service reductions were made as a result of Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-33-20 and significant drops in ridership due to COVID-19.  As a reservation-based system, it also allows Turlock Transit to manage ridership levels and facilitate recommended social distancing standards for seniors, who are at a higher risk for complications from COVID-19.  There are no changes planned to regular Dial-a-Ride services provided after 9:00 a.m. each service day, which will be open to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, as well as the general public in Zones 2 and 3.

​Eligible passengers can make a reservation by calling Turlock Transit at (209) 668-5600 at least one day before the desired trip.  For more information, please visit http://www.turlocktransit.com.

Contact:
Wayne York
Transit Manager
(209) 669-2800
wyork@turlock.ca.us