North Hempstead Transportation Initiative

by Cristina Callegari Kanellopoulos

The Town of North Hempstead and local licensed taxi services are offering senior residents a fantastic opportunity! The town has implemented a 4 month pilot program made possible by a grant from the United States Administration on Aging, and is part of Project Independence - which is North Hempstead's aging-in-place initiative. This pilot program will offer FREE taxi service to it's older residents to local Supermarkets. Here's how it works:

If you are age 60 or over, are a resident of North Hempstead, and live with the pilot area, you are eligible for free, round-trip taxi service 1x per week to a local, designated food shopping destination. This program will run until February 15, 2010.

The program is being offered in the following locations and times:

1. Great Neck, Great Neck Village, Great Neck Manor and the Manhasset Valley Residences. Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents will be taken to Waldbaum's Shopping Center on Great Neck Road.
2. Port Washington, Port Washington North, Baxter Estates and Manorhaven. Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents will be taken to King Kullen or Stop & Shop Centers on Shore Road.
3. Westbury, within the town of North Hempstead and New Cassel. You must live East of Post Avenue, South of the Northern State Parkway, and West of the Wantagh State Parkway. Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents will be taken to Stop & Shop on Old Country Road.
4. New Hyde Park. Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents to be taken to Stop & Shop on Hillside Avenue.

Here's answers to commonly asked questions:

How can I get the Free taxi service?

Call 311 or 516-869-6311 and indicate your interest in the Project Independence Senior Shopping Service pilot program. Call-takers will ask for your name, address, date of birth and telephone number. You will then be enrolled, and mailed a Project Independence membership card. You will sign and show the taxi driver your member card.

How to schedule a ride?

Call 311 at least one day before the day your area is scheduled for the shopping service. Call-takers are on duty M-F from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Will the cab take my walker/wheelchair, can my Aide come along?

Yes, to both questions as long as you schedule your ride at least 24 hours in advance.

How will the trip home be handled?

The taxis will be spending 3 hours going between neighborhood and store. Your driver will show you the meeting place and tell you the approximate pick-up times, and the time of the last trip back home. You will be limited to no more than 3 grocery bags, as their may be more than one passenger in your car.

Call 311 if you have any questions.

This pilot program is a welcome addition to the services for our senior residents in the Town of North Hempstead, and I truly hope that the pilot is successful, and the locations are expanded.