Transportation Options in Pasco County

Transportation is a service that is important for seniors, especially those who do not drive. Although it is a needed service, it is one with limited resources that are no cost or low cost.

This page lists government funded programs, non-profit agencies, and for-profit businesses that provide transportation. There are also businesses who are licensed to provide homemaker, companion, or home health aid services and their staff can provide transportation for an hourly fee.

For more assistance please call the Senior Helpline at 1-800-861-8111.

Public and Funded Transportation

Pasco County Public Transportation

West Pasco (727) 834- 3322

Central Pasco (813) 235- 6073

East Pasco (352) 521- 4587

Pasco County has a one number system. Call one of the numbers above with questions.

Bus Service-

See website or call for bus routes and schedules. Seniors age 65 and older can qualify for reduced fairs with appropriate ID. Reduced fares are: One way-$0.25; Daily pass-$0.75; Monthly pass-$7.50.

Paratransit Service-

Weekday door-to-door paratransit bus service is available in West Pasco and East Pasco (Dade City and Zephyrhills) for those with a disability or those who live more than ? mile from a bus stop. Connections with Pinellas and Hillsborough transit buses are available. Pasco County provides door-to-door transportation service for the following: group dining sites, medical facilities, grocery shopping centers, and other life sustaining destinations. The transportation is provided for older adults and people with disabilities. It is normally a group service. Individual trips are available for medical appointments.

Advance notice: Three to five days.

Days and hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Other days and hours can be arranged on a service fee basis. Trip reservation hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Operates only in Pasco County based on availability of funding for buses to serve specific areas.

Fees: 65/disabled/students-1/2 fare. Medicare or Medicaid card-$1.00 ea. Way. Must have no other means of transportation and meet income guidelines. Other criteria are determined by specific contract with outside agencies and groups.

www.pascocountyfl.net This is the Pasco County government web site. Select Departments followed by Division-Public Transportation for fixed bus route maps and schedules.

Transportation Disadvantaged (TD)

Under Pasco County Public Transportation, Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) is a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) program, funded by the state, to provide low-cost transportation for those who qualify as ?transportation disadvantaged?. Service for medical, employment, grocery, banking, and education related to employment.

Advance notice: 24 hours. Paratransit service provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Area served: Pasco County. Wheelchair equipped vans.

Eligibility and fees: Income criteria must be met, (Subject to change). Must have no means of transportation available, including family and friends. For TD clients under age 65, a $2 fare (for a one-way trip) is due in cash at the time of the ride.

For application forms: Call Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) at (727) 834-3322. Since Pasco County has a one number system, the TD program is not a separate call.

Medical Transportation

American Cancer Society

1- 800- 227-2345

Provides transportation for registered clients to all types of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation appointments. Clients must be ambulatory. Will not go from one county into another. Must be ambulatory.

Advance notice: Required (72 hours).

Fees: None.

Morton Plant North Bay Hospital

727-859-4730

Provides transportation to and from hospital or Trinity Outpatient Center.

Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-4pm (Runs); 9am-3pm to schedule ride.

Supplemental Transportation

MedFleet Systems

727-376-7240

Provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance, stretcher, and wheelchair transport.

Stretcher Limo, Inc.

727-845-4454

Provides stretcher and wheelchair transport.

Taxi Transportation

Silver Streak

(727) 849- 6477 West Pasco

Silver streak Cab Co. has a deposit account. You deposit $500 and use a draw rather than paying for each individual fare.

Yellow Cab

(727) 843-0000 West Pasco (352) 567-7777 East Pasco

$2.25/drop plus $2.00/mile.

Payment Options-Offers individual deposit accounts where you deposit $200 and use a draw, and billing begins 30 days after initial service. Or can choose pay as you go with cash or credit card.

Look in phone book for other taxi services and call for rates. Also check limousine services, airport shuttles, etc.

Transportation With an Escort Provided by For-profit Businesses

Affinity Health Services

(727) 815-9991

Offer assistance with daily chores, meal preparation, shopping and transportation services. Agency gives preference to their clients, but can arrange one-time transportation. Can transport to medical appointments, grocery, pharmacy, beauty shop, etc.

Fees: Escorted-$14.00 per hour (3 hour minimum).

Non-escorted (drive to and drop off)-$20.00 round trip, plus $0.37/mi. if trip is over 10 miles.

Advance notice: 48-72 hours.

Days and hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 Monday through Friday. Can accommodate other hours with more advanced notice.

Area Served: Pasco and Hernando counties.

Bayshore Health and Homemaker Services, Inc.

(727) 939- 0044-Holiday

Provides transportation, errands, companionship, and home health services in West Pasco. Cases can be assessed & supervised by a nurse, but this may not be needed for simple transportation services.

Fees: If no hands-on care is required, fees are $20.95 per hour for 2-4 hours (2 hr. minimum); $17.95 per hour for 4+ hours, plus 40 cents per mile.

Advance notice; Apply by phone 1?2 days in advance.

Days and hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (open 24 hours for emergencies).

Area Served; Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Holiday phone number serves Pinellas County from Curlew Rd. north, and Pasco County.

Caregivers for Seniors, Inc.

(727) 524-7972 Pinellas (727) 945-1319 Pasco

Provides escorted transportation to appointments, grocery shopping, errands, entertainment, beauty salons, etc. Will stay with client at doctor appointments, etc. Initial assessment is required prior to caregiver assignment. Also provide short- and long-term home companions for assistance with meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, medication management, and pet care. All caregivers are older adults.

Fees: $12.00 per hour (minimum of 12 hrs. per week), plus $ .42 ? /mile.

Advance notice: at least one week (less notice required in some cases)

Area Served: Pinellas and Pasco Counties.

Eligibility: Must be client of Caregivers for Seniors contracting for other services as well. Cannot just get transportation services.

Home Instead Senior Care

(727) 845-5819

Errands, companionship, and related transportation. Alzheimer certified for all services. Services provided 24 hours per day/7 days per week.

Fees: For Companion-$16.95 hour, Home helper/Transportation-$17.95 per hour, and $0.45 a mile. Three-hour minimum. Call for sleepover and 24-hour rates. May vary according to service provided. Will transport to medical appointments, shopping, beauty shop or park. Weekend rates same as weekday rates.

Advance Notice: At Least 48 hours.

Area served: Provides service to Pasco and Hernando Counties.

Eligibility: Must be client of Home Instead Senior Care. Cannot just get transportation.

More Information

For information about accessible travel, driving and dementia, Florida's disabled parking program, and exercises to stay in mental and physical shape for driving, visit the Web sites below:

• Accessible Travelers' Database: http://projectaction.easterseals.com/. Easter Seal?s Project Action Accessible Travelers Database lists providers of accessible transportation services throughout the U.S. Includes public transit and private bus companies, van rentals, travel agencies, shuttle services, etc. If planning to travel with someone who may become agitated or who needs physical assistance, select "Technical Assistance" followed by "Transportation Solutions for Caregivers" for ideas.

• AgingCareFL: www.agingcarefl.org. This is the Web site of the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. It was developed as part of the Caregivers REST Project. On this site, select "The Four Stages of Caregiving", Stage One, section 7.Driving Evaluation.

• Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: www.hsmv.state.fl.us. On the home page, select ?On-line Forms? followed by "Report a Driver" (form anyone can use to report a medically-impaired driver ? located at the bottom of the Web page) or "Disabled Parking Placard" (application for parking permit for eligible persons with a disability).

• The Hartford Alzheimer's: www.thehartford.com/alzheimers. This site helps caregivers of those with Alzheimer's with driving issues. A publication called At the Crossroads: A Practical Guide to Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Driving is available online or you can order a copy. Click "At the Crossroads" to access the brochure, which includes the "Warning Signs Worksheet" and the "Agreement With My Family About Driving" forms.
• Senior Drivers: www.seniordrivers.org. Created by The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, this site provides exercises and refresher tips in a choice of Web page or video format to help older drivers stay in shape for driving.
• USAA Insurance Company Educational Foundation www.usaaedfoundation.com. This site offers self-tests and driving tips, information on transportation options after giving up driving, and a booklet called Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully. On the home page, select ?Order Booklets? to get a printed copy or "Safety" to view online.
• AARP Driver Safety: http://www.aarp.org/. Locate an AARP Driver Safety Program near you, or take online course. The site provides information pertinent to older drivers. You can also take an online quiz to determine if your driving skills need improvement. On home page, click on "Family, Home & Legal", then "Driver Safety".

For more information about transportation providers serving Florida?s Pasco and Pinellas Counties, and listed with the Senior Helpline of the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc., use one of the resources for Information and Assistance listed below.

• Visit the Web site of the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc., www.AgingCareFL.org, and use the Links to Aging Resources on the Internet tool. This Web site offers an online database of government programs and private agencies serving older adults in Pasco and Pinellas Counties.

• Look up Transportation in the printed Senior Resource Directory.

• Call the Senior Helpline of the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. at 1-800-861-8111 in Pasco County. The person who answers your call can give you information about local transportation providers and driver assessment programs, answer questions, and send you a copy of the Senior Resource Directory as well as fact sheets on topics such as Florida?s Disabled Parking Program.

For information about transportation options in other parts of Florida or the United States, use one of the resources for Information and Assistance listed below:

• Florida caregivers in other counties may call the toll-free state Elder Helpline number, 1-800-96ELDER (1-800-963-5337), to be connected to local elder helplines around the state.

• Nationally, the Eldercare Locator provides the same type of link to local elder helplines across the U.S. Call toll-free at 1-800-677-1116 or visit the Eldercare Locator Web site, www.eldercare.gov.

Updated February 2007

Copyright 2005 by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. (AAAPP). This document may be reprinted as shown here by non-profit organizations with permission from AAAPP. It may not be used for profit-making purposes.