LW community mulls over alternatives to Minibuses

GRF TOWN HALL

by Ruth Osborn

Communications Director

Leisure World residents crowded into Clubhouse 4 on July 19 for the second town hall in as many months to consider community transportation options that would cost less than the Minibus system. The blueand- white-striped Minibuses have offered fixed route and on-demand service in LW for decades.

The GRF was motivated to consider alternatives because of sharply increased liability and insurance rates that pushed residents’ assessments higher than in previous years, with the looming specter of more hikes to come.

Still, most of the residents who spoke at the town hall valued the comfortable, roomy buses with friendly drivers, plus reliable schedules and on-call service. Many especially valued the shuttle service home after big events.

Several eloquently argued that the Minibuses should be viewed as any other amenity— available to all and used by some with the universal benefit of making Leisure World a soughtafter retirement sanctuary.

GRF Director Nick Massetti of Mutual 17 led the PowerPoint presentation outlining various options, including an ondemand ride service supplied by three electric Ford E-Transit shuttles, which would insulate assessments from increased insurance premiums. This option would do away with fixed-route service.

At the start of public comments, Carl Kennedy of Mutual 15 presented another possibility, which emulates the City of Seal Beach’s senior transportation program. Kennedy had a written proposal from Transportation Concepts to take over operations and maintenance, as well as insure the GRF’s four new buses. Its proposal includes two options: operating a fixed route, as is the case now, or a point-topoint system in which residents call a Transportation Concepts dispatcher to schedule rides.

The proposal included hiring GRF’s existing drivers and offered a low-risk, 30-day cancellation clause protecting Leisure World, Kennedy said. Other options had longer contract periods.

Kennedy’s comments were met with applause from the audience, signaling that the proposal should be to be added to the mix for consideration.

The GRF Board will take up the transportation issue at an upcoming meeting, most likely the Aug. 27 GRF Board meeting in Clubhouse 4.

A group holds signs advocating for the continued use of the GRF Minibuses at the July 19 transportation town hall.

Ruth Osborn