The Town Council voted to accept a recommendation from Valley Metro to pursue an agreement to bring the transit authority’s RideChoice program to Fountain Hills.

The town will need to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Valley Metro and determine the program’s funding base. Officials said the program could be implemented by July 1.

Valley Metro officials told the council the RideChoice program is the most cost-effective way to meet the most pressing transportation needs for residents.

RideChoice is a voucher program that provides taxi services to those who qualify. It was established to serve seniors and those with disabilities. The town would subsidize the project to allow users a reduced fare.

Valley Metro officials say many Valley cities split the subsidy at about 75 percent for the municipality and 25 percent of the fare for the user.

The Town of Fountain Hills would be able to use its share of lottery monies to subsidize the program. That is about $60,000 annually. Use and length of rides would determine how much it would cost the town to subsidize the program.

For instance, if a 10-mile trip was a $25 RideChoice ride, with a 75/25 split the town would pay $18.75 and the user $6.25. That would allow up to 3,120 trips per year based on the current available funding, or 260 trips per month.

The variables would be the length of each trip and how much the town chooses to subsidize each trip.

RideChoice uses a renewable card allowing up to $100 per month to be loaded for each user.

Jim Judge, chairman of the town’s Senior Services Advisory Commission and senior advocate, expressed to the council some impatience with the time it is taking for the Valley Metro study.

Judge said that it was known a year ago when the study was authorized that the town’s greatest need in transportation was the elderly and disabled.

“We have hundreds of people needing help getting to their medical appointments,” Judge said. “It has been 16 months and you are asking for more time.”

Previously the town had used a county ride program that was shut down during the recession. That prompted the town to organize its volunteer “Give-A-Lift” program, which remains busy.

Also, Judge said they are beginning to work with the social service agency Duet to establish a ride program for Fountain Hills. More volunteers are needed for that.

When the council asked for the transit study in December 2012 it requested a broad-based study that would provide a view of long-range transportation needs and possibilities.

The study looked at seven transit concepts including expansion of existing bus routes, a community connector, volunteer van program, enhanced park-n-ride and a prescheduled shuttle.

The factors looked at in relation to these options included costs, passengers, population, travel desires, connections, links to regional centers and consistency with regional plans and policies.

Combining all of these factors led to the recommendation to consider the RideChoice option.