Columbia’s city council trying to address shortage of paratransit drivers

While Columbia continues to see a growing need for paratransit service, the city is down 11 full-time and seven part-time drivers. That’s nearly 40 percent of their operator staff.

Columbia’s city council will first-read a bill Monday evening that adds a paratransit van driver position classification/pay plan amendment. The aim is to hire drivers specifically for paratransit service.

Paratransit service is a federally mandated point of origin to destination service for qualified individuals. The city receives 200 ride requests per day to medical, employment and shopping destinations. Public Works says this demand requires drivers who could be driving fixed routes to drive paratransit service.