BY BEVERLY WOLRIND

Special to The Jewish News

The Jewish community's
transportation system
is branching out
to the break-even
point.

•

Archdiocese, as well as several Torch
munity. If an older adult doesn't show 'Drive agencies. The transportation
up at the bus at his or her regular service has extended beyond the
pick-up time, calls are made to see if Jewish community for a number of
the person is alright. The driver does reasons. Extra contracted bus runs,
not, Goldstein notes, "just drive generate more revenue to cover costs,
away."
ultimately keeping overall fees lower.
Goldstein is proud of his drivers Because many different types of
and staff. He cites dispatcher Toby
schools and agencies are served, the
Broder — who has been with UHS for buses are used at different times of
40 years — with professional han- the day or during different seasons,
dling of routing details for smooth op- thus enabling more efficient and com-
eration. Another key staffer is John plete use of vehicles. The result of all
Hollis, who is responsible for making this is that the operation is nearly at a
sure that vehicles are "ready to go" break-even point — an incredible
when the drivers arrive — not an easy turn-around considering its begin-
task on sub-zero winter mornings.
ning yearly deficit.
With service expanding, bus runs
Each school and agency contracts
have evolved from just the daily
independently with the service.
school routes and field trips. For in-
Clients are as diverse as the Grosse
stance, the operation transported 61.
Pointe Academy, St. Theresa's School
busloads of people to the Detroit Insti- in Detroit's inner city, and Madonna
tute of Arts during last year's land-
College in Livonia. Several commu-
mark "Precious. Legacy" exhibit. And
nity centers and summer programs
the garage handled all the transpor-
utilize the buses, as well as the Boy
tation for last summer's national Scouts and Girl Scouts. Goldstein
Maccabi.Youth Games, hosted by the ,notes that, in the world of transporta-
Jewish Community Center. In the
tion services,, the UHS fees are con-
summer, the JCC alone uses 25 buses
sidered "relatively modest." That fact,
Isadore Goldstein at the helm.
daily for its day caul).
combined with the reputation for re-
"The need for service is stagger-
liability, have generated requests for
AB part of the dependability fac-
ing," according to Goldstein; who
flame of the game is service." .
tor, there are back-up drivers and notes that as the transporation sys- - service that exceed the tiystem's capa-
What's the key to this success in equipment for every run; Drivers who
bility.
What, then, does the future hold?
light of the fact that running a trans- come from all ethnic backgrounds, are tem's reputation has gro'vn, requests
Will there be a bigger fleet, expand-
portation system is considered prob- carefully screened and trained for re- for service have come from around the
tri-county area. He says that only
ing service, or greater sums of reve-
lematic at best and gruesome at liability and driving competence.
non-profit, social service agencies and
nue generated? Probably not. There is
worst? Goldstein says that the key is a
There are some special touches, schools are considered for service.
a major problem looming over the
reputation for dependability and Pea- too ... like the radio-equipped vans
The operation now serves a
,e4 h
sonable fees., He notes that service that p i ck up Yd
;adulte,for
their
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elf
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fees to the agencies hive not been
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