Agoura Hills : Dial-a-Ride Program Expands Service Route

Beginning Wednesday, the city of Agoura Hills will expand its dial-a-ride program for senior citizens and people with disabilities to include service to Thousand Oaks.

Agoura Hills residents can now go as far as Westlake Hospital in Westlake Village, and those wishing to travel farther must transfer to another cab service. After the program expands, though, passengers will be able to continue on to four locations in Thousand Oaks: Los Robles Regional Medical Center, The Oaks mall, the Fitzgerald House senior citizens center and an office complex that houses several social service providers.

Passengers to Thousand Oaks will pay a $3 fare each way. The service costs the city about $126,000 annually and the added service will cost an additional $12,000 per year, said Audrey Brown, Agoura Hills’ director of community services. The money, Brown said, comes from county transportation bond funds.

The change was made at the request of riders, she said.

The city contracts with Thousand Oaks Cab Co. for the dial-a-ride service, which is available to all Agoura Hills residents. The extended service will be available only to senior citizens and people with disabilities.

In neighboring Westlake Village, city officials recently revamped the rules for its city-subsidized senior taxi service. Before, a rider taking an out-of-town trip could make just one stop. If they wanted to go to a second location, they had to go home, then take another taxi. Now, riders can travel directly from the first location to the second.