<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good news!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Looks like ride choice will be coming to PHX and Glendale in July! Please see the email thread below for info. Obviously more info on this to come.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>Jordan Moon</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>Phoenix Chapter President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>(951) 316-5363</span><span style='mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>nfbphoenixchapter@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>The National</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'> Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back!</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>From:</b> Lindsey Powers <lpowers@azdes.gov><br><b>Date:</b> April 22, 2024 at 7:55:11 AM PDT<br><b>To:</b> Bob Kresmer <krezguy@cox.net>, Amy Porterfield <APorterfield@saavi.us>, Donald Porterfield <donaldpfield@gmail.com>, John McCann <john@jamsite.net>, Jonathan Pringle <jpringle@helenkeller.org>, Allan Curry <allan_curry@aol.com>, Annette Reichman <annette.reichman@asdb.az.gov>, beatrizshapiro@gmail.com, David Steinmetz <dsteinmetz@azifb.com>, Erin Pawlus <epawlus@azlibrary.gov>, Mike Gordon <MGordon@saavi.us>, Nathan eldon Pullen <nathan.pullen@nau.edu>, Steve Tepper <stepper@acbvi.org>, Brian Dulude <bdulude@azdes.gov><br><b>Cc:</b> Ted Chittenden <tchittenden@cox.net><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Fwd: FW: [AZ-Central] Update - Valley Metro's RideChoice Service is Expanding to Phoenix and Glendale</b><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p style='margin:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Hi Lindsey:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Please forward the below articles and information about Ride Choice in the Phoenix and Glendale areas to both the GCBVI and SRC councils. The original sender of this email, Ron Brooks, besides being the president of the Central Arizona Council of the Blind (CAZCB—an affiliate of the AZCB), was also formally employed by Phoenix Dial-a-ride and is very knowledgeable about transportation options for the blind and other disabilities at the local, state (because sometimes the state legislature wants to have their say in Federal transportation issues), and Federal levels.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'>--<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'>Ted Chittenden<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'>Every story has at least two sides, if not more.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:AZ-Central@acblists.org" target="_blank">AZ-Central@acblists.org</a> <<a href="mailto:AZ-Central@acblists.org" target="_blank">AZ-Central@acblists.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ron Brooks<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, April 21, 2024 10:23 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:AZ-Central@acblists.org" target="_blank">AZ-Central@acblists.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [AZ-Central] Update - Valley Metro's RideChoice Service is Expanding to Phoenix and Glendale<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Hi folks.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>I came across this article this morning and thought it worthy of sharing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>The article appeared in the local Glendale paper. It announces that the City of Glendale is planning to launch RideChoice for ADA paratransit eligible Glendale residents, effective July or August of this year. This is a big deal for Glendale, much of which is outside of the federally mandated service area for Valley Metro Paratransit. For anyone living in those areas, there are presently no options for going anywhere outside of Glendale without paying retail for an Uber, a Lyft, or a cab, and of course, all of those options come with their challenges—not to mention the price.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>The article itself has some inaccuracies, including about the RideChoice fare structure. The correct structure is $3 for up to an eight-mile trip, and $2 per mile for each additional mile. But aside from the confusion of either Glendale staff or the reporter, this is all good news.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="https://www.glendalestar.com/news/article_c9e3f45c-fc4b-11ee-b650-abeb9e8cae94.html" target="_blank">https://www.glendalestar.com/news/article_c9e3f45c-fc4b-11ee-b650-abeb9e8cae94.html</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>This article is in addition to an earlier announcement from Phoenix, that Phoenix will be joining RideChoice, effective July 1. I think some of us got notices about that, but I did not, and they were certainly not accessible. But assuming the budgets are all approved by all the various cities and Valley Metro (which is probably a formality at this point), RideChoice will be available everywhere in the Valley—with the exception of Peoria. (So if you live in Peoria, it’s time to start pushing on your City Councilmembers. That’s probably the only way this will change there.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>One final note. Glendale’s Transit Administrator, Kevin Link, characterizes this as a one-year pilot, saying that it remains to be seen if Glendale residents will want to use this service. In other words, if demand is low, it’s possible that Glendale could pull out at the end of June of 2025. My suggestion is for those of you in Glendale who qualify for this service should use the heck out of it, and let your City Councilmembers know how you feel about the service. For more about RideChoice, visit <a href="https://www.valleymetro.org/accessibility/ridechoice" target="_blank">https://www.valleymetro.org/accessibility/ridechoice</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Ron Brooks, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Central Chapter – Arizona Council of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:white'>_._,_._,_</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Links:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p>You receive all messages sent to this group. <o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="https://acblists.org/g/AZ-Central/message/656" target="_blank">View/Reply Online (#656)</a> | <a href="mailto:AZ-Central@acblists.org?subject=Re:%20%5BAZ-Central%5D%20Update%20-%20Valley%20Metro%27s%20RideChoice%20Service%20is%20Expanding%20to%20Phoenix%20and%20Glendale" target="_blank">Reply To Group</a> | <a href="mailto:ronbrooks67@gmail.com?subject=Private:%20Re:%20%5BAZ-Central%5D%20Update%20-%20Valley%20Metro%27s%20RideChoice%20Service%20is%20Expanding%20to%20Phoenix%20and%20Glendale" target="_blank">Reply To Sender</a> | <a href="https://acblists.org/mt/105655054/5748129" target="_blank">Mute This Topic</a> | <a href="https://acblists.org/g/AZ-Central/post" target="_blank">New Topic</a> <br><a href="https://acblists.org/g/AZ-Central/editsub/5748129" target="_blank">Your Subscription</a> | <a href="mailto:AZ-Central+owner@acblists.org" target="_blank">Contact Group Owner</a> | <a href="https://acblists.org/g/AZ-Central/leave/9813826/5748129/1832082996/xyzzy" target="_blank">Unsubscribe</a> [<a href="mailto:tchittenden@cox.net" target="_blank">tchittenden@cox.net</a>]<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:white'>_._,_._,_</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>NOTICE: This e-mail (and any attachments) may contain PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL information and is intended only for the use of the specific individual(s) to whom it is addressed. It may contain information that is privileged and confidential under state and federal law. This information may be used or disclosed only in accordance with law, and you may be subject to penalties under law for improper use or further disclosure of the information in this e-mail and its attachments. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the person named above by reply e-mail, and then delete the original e-mail. Thank you.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></body></html>