GRTC brings aboard new firm to steer its paratransit service
GRTC selected to not renew its five-year contract with Ohio-based First Transit to function its paratransit service for aged and disabled riders. (Photograph courtesy of GRTC)
It’s the top of the road for the transportation contractor that has been working GRTC’s paratransit service for practically 5 years.
GRTC determined to not renew its contract with Ohio-based First Transit to run GRTC’s van service for aged and disabled riders.
A competitor referred to as Nationwide Specific Transit will take over the service, GRTC spokesman Mike Frontiero stated Friday. GRTC awarded First Transit a five-year contract to deal with the paratransit service in 2017. The contract ends Dec. 1 of this 12 months.
First Transit knowledgeable the state’s unemployment company earlier this month that it may lay off as much as 95 workers in relation to the contract’s finish.
GRTC determined to not renew the contract with First Transit as a result of the Richmond-area bus operator wasn’t pleased with how issues have been going below First Transit’s tenure.
“There have been ongoing challenges with First Transit relating to retention of operators and high quality of service. Nationwide Specific provided higher responsiveness, accountability, phrases, and worth,” Frontiero stated in an e mail.
Frontiero stated that “most” of the First Transit workers affected by the layoffs have utilized for jobs with Nationwide Specific. It’s unclear precisely how many individuals shall be left unemployed, given the potential to be employed on the new supplier and risk First Transit transfers workers elsewhere.
“As many as 95 workers could also be subjected to a layoff. Nevertheless, it’s possible that First Transit can have switch alternatives out there for workers at different amenities, or that the brand new contractor can have employment alternatives out there for these workers,” First Transit Regional Human Sources Supervisor Miriam DaRocha wrote in an Aug. 5 WARN discover to the Virginia Employment Fee.
Workers affected by the layoffs embrace drivers, dispatchers and administrative employees, in line with DaRocha’s letter.
First Transit didn’t reply to a request for additional remark.
The workplaces utilized by First Transit at GRTC’s facility at 301 E. Belt Blvd. shall be taken over by Nationwide Specific.
As GRTC swaps out paratransit contractors, the regional transit supplier continues to supply no-cost fares on its buses. Henrico County representatives within the spring joined the group’s governing board of administrators.
