The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is rethinking how it issues medical passes for the Galveston-Bolivar ferry after reports of fraud and misuse.
Originally intended to help residents of the Bolivar Peninsula access medical facilities on Galveston Island more quickly, the passes have been used by some for non-medical reasons, such as cutting the ferry line for errands or to speed up travel.
Plans for a New Online System
To combat these issues, TxDOT is planning to replace paper medical passes with an online system to better control access and minimize fraud. The department also hopes to phase out the outdated paper passes and cards.
Shannon Gibson, a regular ferry rider, shared her frustration with long wait times, especially during the busy summer months. “I’ve come over the ferry and I’ve waited for about an hour, hour and a half,” she said.
Medical Pass Recipients Speak Out
Dennis Forward, a resident who received a medical pass due to his diagnosis of congestive heart failure, expressed uncertainty about the abuse of the passes but acknowledged that “every good thing gets abused.”
Since 2006, more than 8,000 medical passes have been issued. TxDOT spokesman Danny Perez noted that the ferry serves over 3,000 residents on Bolivar Peninsula, and the department is looking to revamp the process for issuing medical passes.
Efforts to Revise the Process
Currently, residents need to submit a form signed by a doctor to obtain a medical pass. TxDOT is working with medical partners to create an online application system that officials hope will reduce fraud and improve efficiency.
“We feel that’s a way to reduce the fraud, reduce the abuse,” a TxDOT spokesperson said.
Improving Ferry Service
In addition to revising the medical pass system, TxDOT is also looking into expanding the ferry fleet to address long wait times. While the new online system is still under development, TxDOT is aiming for a swift implementation to alleviate concerns from residents and ferry passengers.
