HOLIDAY CAB SERVICE RETURNS – Message From The Mayor

Chief of Police Steve Reed and Holiday Cab joined me recently to announce the return of the program that provides free cab rides home to impaired drivers during this holiday season. In its 31st year of service, the Holiday Cab program runs from Thursday, December 20th to Tuesday, January 1st from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. each day.

I’m appreciative of the commitment displayed each year by Holiday Cab and local law enforcement as we come together to help keep everyone as safe as possible during the holiday season. We’re fortunate to live in a community that values the safety and well-being of individuals, families, neighborhoods and businesses.

Since 1987, Holiday Cab has provided an alternative for residents looking for a safe ride home. Last year, the program provided 229 rides.

Alcohol-related collisions continue to be a public safety concern nationwide. In Allen County, in 2017, there were a total of 419 alcohol-related collisions, resulting in 136 injuries and 10 deaths.

The Holiday Cab program will provide free rides home to those who live within a 10-mile radius of downtown Fort Wayne. Those who live farther can still use the cab service, but will have to pay the difference, beyond the 10-mile radius.

Residents must call Holiday Cab at (260) 426-8555, in order to get the free service. Reservations are not accepted, and the cabs will only take people home, not to another bar, restaurant or party.

This year’s Holiday Cab program is sponsored by AALCO Distributing Company, Anheuser-Busch IN BEV, UAW CAP Council and the Tavern Owner’s Association. Rides will be provided by Deluxe Taxi Company. The program continues to receive support from local law enforcement agencies. 

A new, multi-use segment of the Pufferbelly Trail is complete. This 2 mile extension from Washington Center Road to Wallen Road will allow residents who live in northwest Fort Wayne to ride their bikes all the way downtown due to the numerous safe connections the trail provides.

The segment connects northwest neighborhoods with Northrop High School, Shawnee Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School via links to existing sidewalks. It connects a large number of neighborhoods to Salomon Farm Park, Parkview Family YMCA and the Dupont Road Trail, as well as Smith Field Airport. And finally, the trail connects to sidewalks on Washington Center Road, which are already connected to sidewalks on Coldwater Road and Clinton Street.

Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana continue to be leaders in growing our trail network as a way to provide quality of life amenities that are meaningful for residents, neighborhoods, visitors, and businesses. The positive momentum and excitement we’re experiencing in our community is evident in part by the popularity of our trails as a way to exercise and connect with people.

This portion of the trail was built in two phases—Wallen Road to Ludwig Road and Ludwig to Washington Center Road—and was grouped with three other sections of the Pufferbelly Trail to obtain Regional Cities funding provided by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). All segments are now complete, including:
• Pufferbelly Trail: State Boulevard to Fourth Street
• Bluffton Road: Lower Huntington Road to West Foster Park/Rivergreenway Connector
• Pufferbelly Trail: State Boulevard to Fernhill Avenue and Franke Park/Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

In winter months trail usage slows, but interest in using trails in colder months is growing. This year, I’ve asked the City’s Right of Way Department to begin clearing snow on primary and secondary trails. Each time it snows three inches or more, the primary and secondary trails that connect to many of our school areas will be plowed. 

In all, the Right of Way staff will plow about 35 miles of trails. Couple that, with the 28 miles of greenways that the Parks and Recreation Department plows, and the 10 to15 miles plowed by schools, universities and businesses, and winter trail usage is expected to increase.

• Pufferbelly Trail: State Boulevard to Fourth Street
• Bluffton Road: Lower Huntington Road to West Foster Park/Rivergreenway Connector
• Pufferbelly Trail: State Boulevard to Fernhill Avenue and Franke Park/Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

In winter months trail usage slows, but interest in using trails in colder months is growing. This year, I’ve asked the City’s Right of Way Department to begin clearing snow on primary and secondary trails. Each time it snows three inches or more, the primary and secondary trails that connect to many of our school areas will be plowed. 

In all, the Right of Way staff will plow about 35 miles of trails. Couple that, with the 28 miles of greenways that the Parks and Recreation Department plows, and the 10 to15 miles plowed by schools, universities and businesses, and winter trail usage is expected to increase.