Transcript What is BCTA?

Fayette Area
Coordinated
Transportation
Presented by:
Ray McDonald
What is FACT?
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FACT stands for:
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Mission Statement:
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Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation
Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation
(FACT) is fully committed to providing all
Fayette county residents with quality
transportation services, regardless of age,
income, or mobility requirements.
Incorporated by the Fayette County
Board of Commissioners in 1996.
Hours
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FACT office hours are Monday through
Friday, 8AM to 4:30PM.
An answering service is available after
regular office hours and on weekends.
Hours of operation are Monday through
Saturday 7AM to 5PM and on Sunday
7AM to 1PM.
What Will You Learn Today?
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What transportation options are available to your
clients
How to determine if your client lives near a
public transit bus route
How to help plan a trip using bus schedules
The cost of a bus ride and how to pay
How to use shared ride services
Who to contact for additional questions
Who am I?
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FACT Transportation Information Manager &
Operations Manager
Primary duties:
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Design routing and scheduling for fixed and
demand response services
Track and analyze service data and statistics
Apply for and administer grant funding
Oversee the customer service function
Maintain local agency relationships
What is FACT?
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Mission Statement:
Fayette Area Coordinated
Transportation (FACT) is fully
committed to providing all Fayette
County residents with quality
transportation services, regardless of
age, income, or mobility requirements.
Where is FACT Located?
The FACT
Transit Center
is located at
825 Airport
Road, Lemont
Furnace, PA,
across from the
Connellsville
Airport.
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How are Transit Services
Funded?
Federal funds:
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Primarily restricted to capital improvements
Replacement vehicles or fleet expansion
 Construction of facilities
 Purchase of fixed equipment (computers,
fareboxes, telephones)
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Allocated based on complex formulas
including population, service area size, and
ridership
 Also include dedicated “earmarks” from
elected officials
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How are Transit Services
Funded?
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State funds:
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Provide for both capital improvements and
operating expenses
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Fuel
Wages and benefits
Vehicle maintenance
Come from a variety of sources
Slow growth and inconsistency in these sources
has brought about a transit funding crisis in
Pennsylvania
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How are Transit Services
Funded?
Local funds:
Provide mostly for operating expenses
 Allow us to subsidize fares for certain
customer groups
 In our case, these are provided by Fayette
County, but they can also come from
individual municipalities or a local sales tax
 These are important because they not only
help us to operate, but also indicate a
“hometown” investment in and commitment
to transit
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How are Transit Services
Funded?
Passenger fares:
Offset our reliance on federal, state, and
local subsidies
 Usually set far below market price of
service
 Transit agencies are increasingly being
judged by elected officials and taxpayers
on their ability to recover a high percentage
of their operating costs through these fares
 Sound route planning and fare policies
help to increase this percentage
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Shared Ride
Medical Assistance Transportation
Program
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This service is a FREE curb to curb transportation for Fayette
County residents and is also a Non-Emergency Transportation
program. FACT does not provide escorts. A parent or guardian
over 18 years of age must accompany a child under the age of
16, the Primary Care Physician, (PCP), must complete an
Escort Eligibility Physician Verification Form stating the need for
an escort to and from appointments.
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Eligibility & Procedure To become eligible to use FACT
transportation services, Fayette County residency and a valid
medical or Access card is required. An eligibility form must be
filled out by the client before FACT can process a request for
transportation services. In the event the request for
transportation is denied, FACT will place a referral with the
County Assistance Office. FACT retains as formal
documentation, the referral form indicating denial of
transportation service request along with a copy of the letter to
the client explaining the reason of denial.
Shared Ride
Person with Disabilities
Transportation
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This grant has provided a reduced fare
transportation program for shared-ride
service to persons who:
Have a disability
 Are 18-64 years old
 Live in or wish to travel in the County of
Fayette
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Other goals of this project
include:
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Collecting data on customers with disabilities
who use public shared-ride transportation
service in rural areas in order to assess their
transportation needs
Collect data on the impact-quality, and cost of
service-on other passengers when shared-ride
transportation providers attempt to meet the
transportation needs of customers with
disabilities
To ensure that the PwD is perceived and used
as a supplemental transportation service for
customers with disabilities
Human service agencies need to
continue to provide and/or pay for
transportation services for persons
with disabilities as they did before.
Such as:
HSDF
W2W
MATP
OVR
DESIGN
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The PwD uses the public Shared-Ride services
model, now used for seniors and the general
public.
It is expected that the PwD will be operated in a
manner that does not diminish or otherwise have
a negative impact on the existing Shared-Ride
services available for older Pennsylvanians and
other shared-ride passengers.
PwD FARES
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For customers with disabilities, the PwD
will fund up to 85% of the general public
shared-ride fares that are currently in
accordance with the Shared-Ride Program
for Senior Citizens.
Fares are based on one-way trips and
range from $1.50-$6.00. Please contact
the FACT Transit Center for the exact fare.
All riders must bring EXACT fare when
you ride. Sorry, our drivers cannot give
change.
PwD Eligibility
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PwD can provide trips for services that
were previously restricted under other
funding streams
Example:
Previously an eligible MATP client with a
disability could not be funded to go to a store
 Under PwD, an MATP client with a disability
would be eligible for a lower fare to go to a
store
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PwD Eligibility cont.
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Provisions for transportation by already
established funding streams cannot be
shed to PwD
Example
Previously an eligible MATP client with a
disability was entitled transportation to
medical appointments
 Under PwD, this MATP client must continue
to use the established program for medical
appointments
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In other words…
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PwD must be used in addition to, not in
lieu of transportation services funded by
social service and public transportation
resources.
These resources must be used before
PwD funds are utilized.
Registration Procedures
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Fayette County determines the eligibility
for the PwD program through a PA Dot
approved standard registration form
A person with a disability is ineligible for the
Pwd
IF
The client refuses to have his/her eligibility
determined by alternative potential service
provider/funding agencies which may fund
the trip
The transit provider will conduct
a standard registration process
for all interested applicants
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This intake process will include, but not be
limited to
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Gathering income data
Confirming that the applicant is a person with a
physical and/or mental impairment that limits him/her
in one or more of the major life activities
Determining the availability of transportation services
from other transportation programs
If applicable, referring the applicant to other agencies
to determine the applicant’s eligibility for
transportation services outside the PwD
Other Shared Ride Programs:
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Welfare To Work: Eligibility determined
through CAO
Shared Ride For Seniors:
85% of fare paid for seniors over 65
HSDF Transportation:
For life saving transportation when not
eligible for other programs
Shared Ride – Other Guidelines
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Every year the client must visit the FACT office and complete an
annual eligibility renewal form. The client, when requesting
transportation services, must call 24 hours in advance, prior to
2PM. Reservations for transportation services can be made as
early as one month in advance. FACT does not offer same day
transportation services, except for those clients needing urgent
care.
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FACT will accommodate urgent care or emergency transportation
requests providing the client’s PCP or Managed Care Organization,
(MCO), contacts FACT via the telephone or fax stating the need for
same day transportation service. FACT must have at least a two
hour advance notice to accommodate urgent care or emergency
transportation requests.
FACT transportation services are available to Pittsburgh area
medical facilities weekly, Thursdays, departing at 8AM and
returning 3PM.
FACT Fixed Routes –
FACT Schedules –
Reading the Schedules –
•Step 1 – Locate where you are and where you want to
go. Let’s assume you’re at the Uniontown Hub and you
want to go to Super Wal-Mart
•Step 2 – Locate the timed stop closest to your current
location. In this example, it is 11:45AM, the next bus will
be at the Uniontown Hub at 12:00PM.
•Step 3 – To find the arrival time at your destination, read
down the timetable column. In this example, the bus
leaving the Uniontown Hub at 12:00PM will arrive at
Super Wal-Mart at 12:20PM.
The Cost to Ride Fixed
Route
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The average fare for a FACT customer
is $1.90. Please consult the Fare
Schedule to determine your exact fare.
Your Starting Location: Uniontown
Cost to the following Destinations:
 Brownsville $1.90
 Connellsville $1.90
 Fairchance $1.90
 Farmington $1.90
Does FACT offer Senior
discounts?
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Persons 65 and older who are
registered with FACT ride for free.
You can stop in at the FACT office to
register, or call 1-800-321-RIDE (7433)
for more information.
How to Identify Your Bus
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Bus front destination sign sample picture:
How do I know exactly where the
FACT bus stops along a particular
route?
FACT routes are designed with "flag stops".
This means that you can "flag" or signal the
driver to stop the bus anywhere along the
route to pick you up (as long as it doesn't
create a hazard for the driver). These rolling
stops allow riders easier access than a
traditional designated stop.
Stops designated at businesses or offices
are made at the main entrances of these
facilities.
How to Board the Bus
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Please be at a designated stop on-time
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In most cases, drivers must adhere to a
strict schedule and will not be able to wait
As the bus approaches, stand close to
the stop and signal the driver
Wait until the bus comes to a complete
stop, then board at the front door
If you require the bus to “kneel”, or the
use of a wheelchair lift, please ask the
driver
How to Pay Your Fare
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As you board, please have your exact fare
ready in the form of cash, pass, or token
This will help speed the boarding process and
keep the bus on-time
Drivers do not carry change
In most cases, drivers will allow an exception
to you if you do not have the full amount
needed to pay your fare – however, this is a
one-time courtesy only
You will generally not be permitted to
deboard at an interim stop to get change in
order to pay your fare
How to Pay Your Fare
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If paying by cash:
You will notice two slots on the farebox
 Coins are dropped in the left slot
 Paper media are deposited in the slot on
the right
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To ensure that the correct fare is being paid,
and help to prevent farebox breakdowns, bills
must be unfolded before being placed into the
farebox.
How to Pay Your Fare
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Farebox sample picture:
How to Pay Your Fare
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If paying by pass:
Passes are sold by month for unlimited use
for work or recreation
 Show your pass to the bus driver
 If your pass is expired, visit the FACT office
to purchase a new pass
 Passes are also sponsored through the
Welfare To Work Program, ask your
caseworker for details
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Half Fare Program for Persons with
Disabilities:
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Ride for half-fare at all times.
Customers must show a Half Fare ID card
to receive half fare rate.
Half Fare ID cards are available from FACT
to persons with qualifying disabilities.
Persons under age 65 with a Medicare
card qualify for this program.
How to Conduct One’s Self
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Conduct prohibited aboard FACT vehicles
includes, but is not limited to, the following:
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Refusing to pay the proper fare
Harassing or threatening the driver or other
passengers
Using profanity
Drinking alcoholic beverages or being grossly
intoxicated to the point of the following:
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Harassing or disturbing others
Loud or disruptive
Loss of control over bodily functions
How to Conduct One’s Self
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Conduct prohibited aboard FACT vehicles
includes, but is not limited to, the following:
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Smoking
Eating
Drinking
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Except non-alcoholic beverages from a covered, spillresistant container such as a travel mug
Carrying weapons
Listening to music without headphones and/or at a
volume that disturbs other passengers or the
driver
How to Conduct One’s Self
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Conduct prohibited aboard FACT vehicles
includes, but is not limited to, the following:
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Lying down or occupying more than one seat
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Of course, we make reasonable exceptions for children
and sleepy adults as space permits
Loud or disruptive behavior
Putting feet up on the seats
Littering
Defacing the vehicle or other peoples’ belongings
Bringing animals aboard that are not service
animals or are not carried in an approved pet
carrier
How to Conduct One’s Self
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Violation of these rules can result in the
following:
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Expulsion from the vehicle
Refusal of future service
Fine
Arrest
In general, our rules are common sense and
we expect our passengers to treat others the
way they would like to be treated
How to De-board the Bus
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Shortly after the bus passes the stop before
yours, pull the cord located directly above or
alongside your seat
A “stop requested” light and a bell at the front
of the bus will let the driver know you want to
de-board
Don’t hesitate to ask the driver if you need
help identifying your destination
Please wait to exit the bus until it comes to a
complete stop
How to De-board the Bus
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De-boarding features sample pictures:
If You Need More
Information
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We will be happy to assist you in person,
by mail, via email or over the phone
Toll Free: 1-800-321-RIDE (7433)
 Main Office: Phone:724-628-7433
 E-Mail: [email protected]
 Office Location:
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825 Airport Road
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
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Office Hours:
8:00AM - 4:30PM
Monday thru Friday
Closed Weekends and Holidays
If You Need More
Information
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Answers are also available over the
web:
www.factbus.com
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What you will find:
Timely service news and updates
 Descriptions of FACT programs
 Contact information
 Schedules and fares
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