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SafeRide Program

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City considering dropping 

its part in SafeRide Program, 

but program expected to continue

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The city of Prairie du Chien is considering whether or not to drop its participation in the Crawford County SafeRide Program due to budget reasons.

There was a public hearing on the matter on Nov. 16, and further public hearings are scheduled or Nov. 23 and Dec. 15. At the Dec. 15 hearing, it is expected that there will be a vote.

The Saturday and Sunday of Dec. 26 and Dec. 27 might be the last days of extended hours for Coulee Cab regarding the SafeRide Program if the city votes to eliminate the SafeRide hours. 

The SafeRide Program began in November of 2014. The program added seven hours per week to the existing taxi hours or approximately 364 hours per year, according to City Administrator Aaron Kramer. The cost to operate the cab in 2015 is $26.95 per hour or $9,809.80. After any fares received, the city in 2015 is reimbursed by the state 58.22 percent of the net operating deficit, Kramer said. For example, if in a year 100 people utilized the extra hours at $5 per person, then the operating deficit would be $9,309.80 and the city’s share would be $3,889.63. In 2016, the state’s share will most likely drop to 56 percent, Kramer said. 

Kramer said, “Every budget item from staffing to supplies is a potential area to cut to achieve the goal of a balanced budget. In most cases, the cutting is spread over as many areas as possible so that one program is not completely eliminated. So in this case, the shared ride taxi service operates 11,500 hours annually which includes the 364 hours of the SafeRide Program. So if the decision ultimately is to eliminate the SafeRide hours, it represents a 3percent reduction in overall taxi hours. Ridership has not materialized to the levels hoped for, so that is one reason it is being considered as an area to trim the budget.”

“It would be a setback if the city were to drop the Safe Ride Program,” said Crawford County SafeRide Coordinator Scott Nichols. “But, we would continue to run the program.”

Nichols said that November marks the one-year anniversary of the SafeRide Program in Crawford County which has given 188 free rides home for tavern customers county wide so far. Of the 188 rides, 68 have been provided by the taxi service in Prairie du Chien. The other 120 rides have been given by “good samaritan” drivers as part of the program. 

Nichols said that good samaritan drivers include volunteers who are “on call” who have been called by a bartender or customer to give the customer a safe ride home. Good samaritan drivers may also include people who are in the tavern who are 100 percent sober, said Nichols.

“The cab company has provided another option for the SafeRide Program,” said Nichols. “But, we understand what the city is going through with its budget.” 

Nichols said that the Crawford County SafeRide Program provides vouchers to taverns that are members of the Crawford County Tavern League. A voucher is given by the bartender to the driver who is giving a person a safe ride home. The cab driver or a good samaritan driver records on the voucher how many miles they drove. The driver then turns the voucher in and is reimbursed per mile by the Tavern League.

“It’s been one year and we’re working to get the word out about the SafeRide Program,” said Nichols. “Other state and local members (of the Tavern League) say they like it. It’s been a huge success. It’s a good program we’re offering.”

Nichols pointed out that the SafeRide Program has been in Wisconsin since 1985 and has served the citizens well in helping to make Wisconsin’s roads safer. 

According to Wisconsin Tavern League statistics, in 2014-2015, 85,413 rides were given throughout the state, an increase of 3,096 from the previous year. There has been a 28 percent decline in DUI convictions in the state since 2004. There has also been a 50 percent decline in alcohol related fatalities in the state since 2003. In 2009, there were 238 alcohol related deaths. In 2014, there were 162 alcohol related deaths.

While the SafeRide Program is not the sole reason for these declines, it has and is doing its part to keep the state’s roads safer.

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