A new Saturday transportation service for Amador County residents who have difficulty traveling is underway, thanks to a pilot program administered by Common Ground and funded by Amador Regional Transit Service.

"This is a home pickup, door-to-door service for those who can't drive because of a medical condition, because of the their age or income, or who have a developmental disability," said Common Ground's executive director Elizabeth Thompson.

She said the service - called Reserve-A-Ride - is designed to help people make trips to work, shopping, church or recreational activities. Service hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A 10-passenger van is currently used for Reserve-A-Ride.

Current routes travel along Highway 88 between Highway 49 and Buena Vista Road; along Buena Vista Road between Highway 88 and Jackson Valley Road; along Highway 104 between Highway 88 and the western Ione city limits; along Highway 49 between southern Jackson and northern Plymouth; along Ridge Road from Highway 49 to Highway 88; and along Highway 88 between Highway 49 and the U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station east of Pioneer.

Thompson said the Saturday rides require a telephone reservation made by noon on the Thursday prior to the ride date. A reservation must be made for rides in each direction. Call 256-5943 to make a reservation. Cost of the service is $3 each way.

"For example, you should make a reservation from your home to a doctor's office and then another from the doctor back home. That way we can keep everything straight," she said.

The Saturday rides are funded by $40,000 from federal Local Transportation Funds secured by ARTS to provide transportation for the disadvantaged, explained ARTS consultant Mel Welsh.

This is a pilot program that will be reviewed yearly by ARTS managers. If a need is shown, the service will be continued and expanded, Welsh said.

ARTS' promotion of a new schedule has the transit system offering free rides on ARTS buses for two weeks beginning March 23. Until April 3, people will be able to ride everywhere ARTS buses go in Amador County, and as far as Rancho Murieta on the X-line. For more information, call 223-BUSS.