City to provide free rides to COVID-19 vaccination sites for all residents

​Starting Thursday, April 1, 2021, and continuing until further notice, the City of Turlock (Turlock Transit) will be providing free, roundtrip service on Dial-a-Ride to passengers seeking a COVID-19 vaccination from authorized vaccination sites.  The purpose of this enhanced service is to remove financial barriers to vaccination, including access by transit-dependent passengers.

Dial-a-Ride is a reservation-based, point-to-point transportation service that operates Monday-Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  While same-day reservation requests may be accommodated, as resources allow, passengers are encouraged to call (209) 668-5600 at least one day in advance to guarantee a reservation.

​Passengers transported to and from vaccination sites will not share a ride with other individuals outside of the passenger’s household.  This service offering is available to all individuals eligible to receive a vaccination, as well as their personal care attendants. Authorized vaccination sites are those community provider networks listed by the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (http://schsa.org/coronavirus/vaccine) and located within the city of Turlock.

“We recognize the critical role that vaccinations play in safeguarding the health of our most vulnerable citizens, as well as the opportunity for public transit to provide transportation to vaccination sites for our transit-dependent citizens,” said Wayne York, Transit Manager.  “We are leveraging all of our available resources to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for those that want it, while still maintaining regular transit services and schedules.”

Effective April 1, 2021, all residents of Stanislaus County ages 16 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  Teens who are 16 or 17 must be accompanied by an adult and are only eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.  Passengers should plan to bring a government-issued identification, as well as any other documentation required by the vaccination site.  If visiting a site where vaccination appointments are required, be sure to inform the Turlock Transit representative of that appointment time when scheduling your trip.  If visiting a site where vaccination appointments are not required, be prepared for extended wait periods, which can occur due to high demand.

These enhanced Dial-a-Ride services are subject to evaluation and change in the future, as needed.  Financial support for these services is available from the transit portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has authorized CARES Act funding to be used to support local communities with vaccine distribution.

Enhanced health and safety protocols remain in effect on all transit buses and facilities:

• Face coverings are required by all individuals when on-board a bus, or waiting at a bus stop, or inside the Transit Center, unless specifically exempt;
• Free masks and hand sanitizer are available for passengers, upon request;
• High touchpoints on all buses are sanitized regularly throughout the day;
• Air filtration devices have been installed on all buses, with further air filtration enhancements planned in the coming months;
• All active buses are fogged daily with an electrostatic sprayer;
• Physical distancing is strongly encouraged on-board buses at all times;
• Education efforts continue on buses, at the Transit Center, and online.

For more information, please visit http://www.turlocktransit.com or call (209) 668-5600.