$10 shuttle to Kaiser in Woodland Hills goes underutilized by seniors, disabled
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Seniors who need to see their doctors at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills haven't been flocking to ride a new shuttle service that departs from Senior Concerns in Thousand Oaks.

The shuttle provides transportation for people with disabilities and those over 60 on the 17-mile round trip to the Woodland Hills hospital and back to Senior Concerns for $10.

Though the city expected lots of participation when more than $200,000 was earmarked to launch the program, not many riders have boarded the bus.

Eighteen tickets were purchased in March, 15 in April and 26 in May. Some fares have been purchased by repeat riders.

During March, shuttle tickets were on sale for only $7 round trip, but few riders took advantage of the service.

The van can hold up to nine passengers per trip. Reservations are required.

For those who need it, a wheelchair van is also available.

The program operates every Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 8:15 a.m. when riders are picked up at the Senior Concerns office at 401 Hodencamp Road and dropped off at 9 a.m. at Kaiser Permanente hospital in Woodland Hills.

The shuttle leaves Thousand Oaks again at 10:15 a.m. for an 11 a.m. drop-off at Kaiser and once again at 12:20 p.m. with a 1 p.m. arrival time at the hospital.

The return trips from Kaiser are at 9:10 a.m., arriving at Thousand Oaks at 10 a.m., and at 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., with arrival times at Senior Concerns 30 to 45 minutes after departure.

Patients must tell Kaiser they're going to be taking the shuttle when they make their medical appointments, shuttle coordinator Toni Hagopian said.

According to a business plan prepared by Senior Concerns and presented to the City Council in September 2006, there are about 5,000 Thousand Oaks seniors enrolled in Kaiser Permanente. Roy Myers, Thousand Oaks city transportation analyst, said Kaiser Permanente doesn't have a transportation budget but would work with the private/public program to market it to their clients.

So far, Kaiser hasn't informed its patients know about the shuttle, but is expected to do so this month in one of its newsletters, according to Senior Concerns Director Carol Freeman.

Some seniors haven't been able to take advantage of the shuttle service, Freeman said, because they've had trouble coordinating transportation from their homes to Senior Concerns using DialaRide, another citysubsidized service.

The medical provider has guaranteed no patient will ever be abandoned at the hospital because of missing the shuttle, Myers said.

"They will give them a room for the night or find them a way home," said Myers.

Since many Thousand Oaks seniors had said they couldn't afford the taxi price of $55 each way to and from Kaiser, the shuttle was expected to be a welcome alternative means of transportation to the hospital. Still, there are some who call about it but then don't take it because the $10 roundtrip expense is still too expensive for them, Freeman said.

Another problem is that some departments at Kaiser accept appointments only on days other than Tuesdays and Thursdays. In July, a committee will decide if the days and times of the shuttle should be changed, Freeman said.

Last year, the City Council approved $70,525 each year for three years up to $211,575 and authorized Senior Concerns to serve as the program operator.

A Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant will make up most of the funding, and the city will provide additional monies through air quality fees from the transportation fund.

According to a staff report, the city had received numerous requests for a 17mile transportation service to the Kaiser Permanente hospital due to the elimination of other HMO programs in the area.

Those under 60 or without disabilities may ride the shuttle for $20 round trip.