Co-op, Taxi support for Wheel-Trans centralized dispatch

But a whole new dispatch system is not needed, DeBaeremaeker says

Co-op Cabs’ lobbyist Glenn DeBaeremaeker offered the TTC support for the concept one centralized dispatch for both pre-booked and on-demand Wheel-Trans services.

“The AODA guidelines are that you have to do this. So, we appreciate that the City is trying to get an on demand service. But the difference between Wheel-Trans and on demand is is to us, there shouldn’t be a difference. So I think co ops objective is to say, first of all, we congratulate the city for moving to on demand, but do it in a very in a smart, efficient and cost effective way,” DeBaeremaeker told Taxi News on September 11th

“So our jaws dropped when we saw options that the city was looking at to sort of create a brand new call center and reinvent the entire wheel. And when you’re going to invent a new call center, you’re going to have to hire you’re going to have to pay for all the technology. You’re going to have to rent space, you’re going to have to train them all. Then you’re going to have to connect with vehicles. Then you’re going to have to figure out how you track those vehicles, how people pay the fares,” DeBaeremaker points out.

As a comparison, The City of Ottawa managed to reduce wait times for an on-demand Wheelchair Accessible Taxis from over 30 minutes to under 15 minutes in the past year, according to a June 23 staff report. During this period, the number of these trips taken increased by 21 per cent, from an average of 1,000 per month to 1,206.