Transcript Title Master

ADA Complementary
Paratransit
Basics: Part 2
Paratransit Operations
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TARC
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Meet Your Trainer
Donna Smith
Director of Training
Easter Seals Project ACTION
ESPA Technical Assistance
• Strives to provide accurate information on the ADA
• Does not carry the force of law
• Seeks solutions using the ADA as a baseline
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Where Paratransit Goes
• Service must be comparable to fixed route service
• Must service within ¾ mile of the fixed route
• For rail or bus stations, service must be within a ¾
mile radius round the station
• If an eligible rider resides outside service area, s/he
can travel into service area and then use the service
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When Paratransit Goes
• Must operate during the same hours as fixed-route
• Route and schedule comparable to all fixed-route
routes and schedules
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Scope of Paratransit Service
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Scope of Paratransit Service
• Trips are origin-to-destination
• Systems can have a basic level of service
–Curb-to-curb
–Door-to-door
• No specified trip type: can be medical, work,
recreation, etc.
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Scheduling
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Scheduling
• Rides must be provided on a next-day basis at a
minimum
• Providers can negotiate a pick-up time within one hour
before or after the individual’s desired departure time
• Providers can also offer subscription service for
regularly occurring trips
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Passenger Pick-up Information
• Scheduled pick-up time: The time that the system
estimates the driver will actually make the pick-up
• Actual pick-up/drop-off time: The time recorded by
a driver when the actual pick-up and drop-off are
made
• Pick-up window – window of time before and after
scheduled pick up time when vehicle may show up
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Common Practice – Pick-Up Window
• Typically no more than 30 minutes
• Corresponds to the scheduled pick-up time such as:
– 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after
– 20 minutes before and 10 after
– 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after
• Customer must be ready to be picked up at any time
during this pick-up window
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Common Practice – Wait Time
• Wait time is how long the operator will wait once the
vehicle has arrived
• Typical wait time is 5-10 minutes
• Customer is marked as a “no show” after the wait
time
• The ADA does not require that any wait time be
granted
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Reasonable Assistance
• Operators are required to provide reasonable
assistance to board, ride and alight from paratransit
vehicles
• Standard is higher than for fixed-route operators due
to the nature of the service
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Common Practice – Reasonable
Assistance
• More time to board/alight
• Assistance with balance and stowing
crutches/walkers
• Assistance in paying fare
• Assistance to find a seat
• Assistance with seat belts
• Wheelchair securement
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Common Practice – Reasonable
Assistance
• Operators are not required to assist with packages
but often will
• May enforce a 2-bag limit on paratransit if this policy
exists for fixed-route
• May allow for more bags for certain trips or on certain
days
• May have volunteers to assist with packages on
certain days
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Origin to Destination
• ADA Complementary Paratransit Service is an origin
to destination service
• Can be a curb-to-curb service, but if customers need
assistance in getting to the vehicle or to the door of
their destination, this service should be provided
when possible
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Common Practice – Door-to-Door
• Operators typically leave the vehicle to assist a
person between the door and the bus
• Operators do not typically go beyond the door
• Line of sight to vehicle must be maintained
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Service Animals
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Two Different Definitions Under the ADA
• DOJ revised definition under the ADA – applies to
state and local government and places of public
accommodation
• DOT definition under the ADA – applies to
transportation
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DOJ Definition of a Service Animal
• Dogs that are individually trained to do work or
perform tasks for people with disabilities
– Guiding people who are blind
– Alerting people who are deaf
– Pulling a wheelchair
– Alerting and protecting a person having a seizure
– Reminding a person to take prescribed
medications
– Calming a person with PTSD
– Other duties
DOT Definition of a Service Animal
• “Any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal
individually trained to work or perform tasks for an
individual with a disability
• Including, but not limited to:
– Guiding individuals with impaired vision
– Alerting individuals with impaired hearing to
intruders or sounds
– Providing minimal protection or rescue work
– Pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items
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Allergies/Fears
• Shall not refuse service to a person using a service
animal because the operator or other passengers
have allergies to or a fear of animals
• Animal must not be allowed to threaten others or
leave the space of the handler
• Handler is responsible for maintaining control of the
animal at all times
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Common Practice – Allergies/Fears
• Some passengers may have conditions which can
heighten allergic reactions or fears
• When possible, trips should be scheduled to avoid
pairing such passengers on vehicles with people who
use service animals
• Does not apply to operators
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Appeals
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Reasons for Suspending Service
– No-Show – Passenger scheduled for trip and:
Does not appear at the designated pick-up point
Does not cancel in advance
– Late Cancellation
“Functional equivalent” of a no-show
Have the same negative impact on the service
– Direct Threat
“a significant risk to the health or safety of others
that cannot be eliminated by a modification of
policies, practices or procedures, or by the
provision of auxiliary aids or services.”
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Suspension Appeals
• Applicant must have at least 60 days to file an appeal
• Appeal process must be a separate function
• Appellants must have the right to be heard in person
• Regulatory Due Process
– Notify individual in writing of decision
 Include specific reasons
 Describe sanctions, if any
 Notify of right to appeal
– Sanctions are stayed pending appeal
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Resources
• ADA Transportation Regulations http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/12876.html
• Easter Seals Project ACTION – www.ProjectACTION.org
• FTA ADA Topic Guides on Transportation http://dredf.org/ADAtg/
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Questions
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Easter Seals Project ACTION
1425 K Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
1-202-347-3066
www.ProjectACTION.org
[email protected]
WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG