Seniors left stranded in Clay County following transit change

Some Jacksonville area seniors say changes to a transportation system they rely on have left them stranded.

As of the first of the year, the Clay County Council on Aging stopped providing transportation for seniors.

Marc Gross’ tremors from his Parkinson’s won’t let him drive.

It’s why he relied on Clay Transit to get him to and from his aquasize class at the local YMCA -- but one day his ride never showed up.

“I was waiting, and I finally called and that’s when she said the driver is not coming because we are closed,” said Gross.

According to Gross, he got no warning, and a letter he was told he should’ve gotten never arrived.

Aquasize provides Gross with much needed therapy that he said his doctors recommended to treat his Parkinson’s.

It all comes down to financial trouble that forced the county to stop providing transportation for seniors.

Last month Action News Jax reported that JTA would start providing paratransit services in Clay County Jan. 1 but JTA said those services are for people who need to get to dialysis or doctor’s appointments.

Leaving people like Gross at the bottom of the list.

“I’ve been pretty depressed over the last week about it -- a little bit panicky. It’s a sense of being totally alone -- no resources,” said Gross.

Gross said his aquasize class is his only source of human interaction.

“I’m doing nothing. This is a lovely place, but it can get pretty lonely if you have no place to go,” said Gross.

According to JTA, it is currently in talks with Clay County officials about expanding the services. JTA says the expansion will require more funding that cannot come from Duval County taxpayers.

Cox Media Group