SACO — It’s not every day that the debut of a taxi cab draws a crowd, much less one comprised of local politicians and representatives from two U.S. senators.

But then, this isn’t an ordinary cab.

Locals gathered inside the show room of Southern Maine Motors in Saco on Saturday to catch their first glimpse of A-1 Cab Service’s newest addition to its fleet, a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan with a special distinction: A side-entry ramp specially designed for wheelchairs.

According to information provided by the Maine Department of Transportation, it is the first cab in southern Maine specifically engineered for people with disabilities, with A-1 Cab Service earning distinction as only the second taxi company in the state to offer such a car.

Schooner Bay Taxi in Rockland was the first, and like A-1, managed to secure the vehicle through the DOT’s Accessible Taxi Program.

“The Maine DOT learned about us and the quality of our company, and the vehicles that we have in our fleet,” said John Surran, founder and general manager of A-1 Cab Service. “They asked us if we wanted to participate in the program.”

The Accessible Taxi Program utilizes New Freedom funds from the Federal Transit Administration, with the goal of providing public transportation services with amenities that go above and beyond the standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, according to a written statement from A-1 Cab Service.

The cab company is licensed to operate in Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach, as well as some of the surrounding area, said Surran.

Penny Vallaincourt, project manager of the New Freedom Grant Program, said the cost of the Grand Caravan amounted to $36,000, with 80 percent paid for through the FTA. A-1 covered the remaining $7,200, which made possible the introduction of the car to a southern Maine market.

“The program is intended to reduce barriers to people with disabilities,” said Vallaincourt. “This really enhances transit services beyond what’s (currently) available.”

That is especially true in the Biddeford-Saco area, where currently the only means of public transportation available to those in wheelchairs is through the York County Community Action Corporation. The YCCAC doesn’t operate a transportation service on weekends, which limits the independence of disabled residents.

“John (Surran) and I have had a good relationship,” said Connie Garber, program director for the YCCAC. “The transportation services that York County Community Action has provided for 30 years will never be able to fulfill all the needs of our community. It’s been a pleasure dealing with John.”

If the experience of Rockland’s Schooner Bay Taxi is any indication, the new vehicle will be well utilized. Chris Merritt, Schooner Bay’s president, boasts three such vehicles in his fleet, and says they make a cumulative total of 200 runs per month, about 25 percent of those to people with disabilities. He expects the need in southern Maine, which has a denser population base than Rockland, will be greater.

“They’re a nice vehicle,” said Merritt. “They’re a great addition to anybody’s fleet. The minimal investment it took to get them on the road has totally been worth it.”

Several distinguished guests at Saturday’s ribbon-cutting heaped praise on A-1 for its decision to make that investment, including Saco’s Sen. Barry Hobbins and Rep. Linda Valentino, Biddeford City Councilor Bob Mills, as well as representatives from the offices of U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

Saco Mayor Mark Johnston said the availability of transportation services for the disabled in the area has been a need left unfulfilled for too long.

“We all have elderly parents, or someone we know with some sort of hardship,” said Johnston. “This is the first step in making sure they have this much-needed service.”

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 319, or at jlagasse@journaltribune.com.