New Brunswick's Dial-A-Ride Service Back on the Road, Taking Reservations
Originally on TAPInto NJ
The program was paused for a year until Parker Health Group, Inc. entered into a year-long partnership with the city that has resulted in the relaunch of Dial-A-Ride and other senior citizen-friendly programs.
Residents can now reserve rides on a first-call, first-served basis.
There will be a maximum of two to four passengers per van, depending on the capacity of the specific vehicle. Priority will be given to riders receiving life-sustaining treatments such as dialysis or cancer treatments.
To reserve, call Dial-A-Ride at 732-745-5161.
Service is available Monday through Friday (excluding Holidays) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“The return of Dial-A-Ride is extremely important to our senior community as well as their caregivers,” says City of New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill. “As more in-person services are being restored, mobility and access to reliable transportation become that much more crucial. We are extremely grateful for the support and generosity of Parker Health Group which has allowed us to get this program back up and running.”
The restart of the program includes numerous COVID-19 safety measures for the health of passengers and drivers, including social distancing while on the vans, wearing masks or face coverings, temperature screenings prior to boarding and completing a health questionnaire before each trip.
The vans will also be fitted with soft-shield barriers and air filters and sanitizers.
In between trips, the Dial-A-Ride drivers will sanitize touch surfaces including all seats and handrails.
For more information, please visit www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/dial
Parker is also sponsoring The Virtual Vitality program that loans tablet computers to New Brunswick Senior Community Resource Center members. The program will connect seniors to custom-tailored programs, activities and services geared toward combating social isolation. The tablets will also provide enhanced access to telehealth services during the pandemic. The agreement includes IT consulting as well as educational tutorials for, and presentations of, the program to the users.