On Sept. 8, the township gave ITN a Crown Victoria, recently taken out of service by the Police Department
By John Tredrea
The work of a Mercer County-based organization dedicated to providing affordable transportation to seniors and the visually impaired is slated to begin by Oct. 4 at the latest.
Thanks to Hopewell Township, the Independent Transportation Network (ITN) has a vehicle of its own to supplement the use of vehicles that will be provided by volunteer drivers while they work for ITN.
On Sept. 8, the township gave ITN a Crown Victoria, recently taken out of service by the Police Department. Though the vehicles’s mileage indicates it’s had enough police work, it’s fine for the sort of use ITN will give it, officials said.
"This is our first vehicle, and we’re very grateful to Hopewell Township," said Samirah Abdul-Fattah, ITM project director, after accepting the keys and title to the Crown Victoria from Deputy Mayor David Sandahl.
"We’re happy that a vehicle that’s been good for us has been put to another good use," said Mr. Sandahl, who will work as a volunteer driver for ITN on Oct. 4. So will township Mayor Vanessa Sandom, he said.
ITN is recruiting volunteer drivers. Volunteers are compensated by receiving reimbursements for mileage and banking credits that can be saved for when they need to use the service themselves.
The services also can be donated to a friend or relative or donated back to the community to pay for rides for low-income residents. Schedules are flexible to meet the needs of the volunteer drivers.
ITN’s door-to-door service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, primarily using private cars to provide dignified transportation to its members. Ride fees are based on mileage and taken directly out of a member’s debit account. Members never have to pay their driver.
Members can go wherever they want within the 10-mile service area around Quaker Bridge Mall. Trip frequency, purpose and destination are never limited. If members need to travel outside the Mercer County service area, ITN provides rides to the local train stations. ITN members can receive discounts on rides by traveling to participating businesses and medical facilities or by sharing rides with friends.
ITN’s goal is to bring people together by allowing seniors and the visually impaired to remain active parts of their communities. Volunteers are able to make this goal possible every day.
For more information or an application to become a volunteer driver or a member, contact 452-1491 or visit www.itngreatermercer.org.