Special Programs For Aging Needs, Inc. (SPAN) of Denton County and the Town of Flower Mound have joined forces to provide a safe and efficient door-to-door transportation service for Flower Mound’s senior and special needs residents.

The on-demand transit service is available for eligible Flower Mound residents who are age 65 or older, and/or who have verifiable disabilities that prevent them from driving. The service will transport riders to locations within the Town of Flower Mound, the City of Lewisville, and the City of Highland Village for a fee of $6.50 per one-way ride. All fees are collected at the time of the trip. The transit service is available between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and may also be available on certain holidays. To determine eligibility or schedule a trip, riders may call the SPAN transportation office at 940.382.1900 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Trips must be scheduled at least one day in advance, but no more than two weeks in advance.

The service will be available for the purpose of obtaining medical treatments, attending doctor and dentist appointments, shopping for necessities, or to participate in Flower Mound’s Seniors In Motion senior citizen program activities. Trips to the doctor or dentist’s office, hospital, drug store or other location may qualify as a Medicaid eligible trip. Eligible riders are encouraged to call Texas Health and Human Services at 1.877.633.8747 at least two days before their appointment or trip to schedule free transportation through Medicaid. For more information, contact the Town of Flower Mound at 972.539.SERV, or visit www.span-transit.org and contact SPAN at 940.382.1900.

Flower Mound Testing Expanded Transportation Service to Places of Employment

The Town of Flower Mound has expanded Special Programs for Aging Needs (SPAN) transportation services to include trips to a place of employment for Flower Mound residents who are eligible to utilize the service. The on-demand transit service is available for Flower Mound residents who are age 65 or older or have verifiable disabilities that prevent them from driving. The service will transport riders to locations within the Town of Flower Mound, the City of Lewisville, and the City of Highland Village. SPAN will require verification of employment, including a current I.D. badge, or a letter from employer stating employment, prior to transporting a rider. The new trip category will remain in effect until the Town’s current contract with SPAN expires on September 30. Flower Mound officials will assess ridership to places of employment during this trial period to evaluate a need for this service within the community. For more information, contact the Town of Flower Mound at 972.539.SERV, contact SPAN at 940.382.1900 or visit www.span-transit.org.

2010-2011 SPAN Transportation Rates for Flower Mound Residents The 2010-2011 Fiscal Year Demand Response Transit Service contract between the Town of Flower Mound and the Special Programs for Aging Needs (SPAN) organization was approved by the Town Council on September 20. The new contract retains the same basic parameters as the previous year, but will include two changes related to the trip fee and the time period reservations can be made for transportation. Due to an increase in the trip rate established by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and SPAN, riders will now pay $6.50 per ride and the Town will now pay $19.45 per ride. Additionally, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the new time period to schedule pick-up and drop-off appointments. Both of these changes will take effect on October 1, 2010.