Paratransit Dialogue

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  Volunteer programs »

  Senior Mobiltiy Ambassador

  The San Mateo County Transit District has a Senior Mobility Ambassador Program. The program uses agency and community volunteers to introduce seniors and people with disabilities to the wide variety of transit options available in San Mateo County. After a comprehensive training program, 10 volunteer ambassadors work one-on-one with new riders to help them plan trips and accompany them as they learn to navigate the public ...more »

  The San Mateo County Transit District has a Senior Mobility Ambassador Program. The program uses agency and community volunteers to introduce seniors and people with disabilities to the wide variety of transit options available in San Mateo County. After a comprehensive training program, 10 volunteer ambassadors work one-on-one with new riders to help them plan trips and accompany them as they learn to navigate the public transportation system.

  Six senior centers in San Mateo County serve as “host centers” for the program.

  During the program launch, the Transit District also developed a “Seniors on the Go” how-to-ride guide that has been distributed to San Mateo County libraries, senior centers and city agencies.

  The Mobility Ambassador Program is funded by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s New Freedom Program.

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  Submitted by Tina Dubost 1 year ago

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  ADA complementary service »

  Work with Community on Efficiency

  Like all transit agencies, we are facing lower revenues and need to make paratransit service more cost-effective. We meet regularly with the Efficiency Review Committee, a sub-group of our advisory committee, to discuss possible ways to make the service more efficient. Recently, we worked with them to increase our late cancellation window from 1 hour to 2 hours. The extra hour has allowed us to improve scheduling efficiency. ...more »

  Like all transit agencies, we are facing lower revenues and need to make paratransit service more cost-effective. We meet regularly with the Efficiency Review Committee, a sub-group of our advisory committee, to discuss possible ways to make the service more efficient. Recently, we worked with them to increase our late cancellation window from 1 hour to 2 hours. The extra hour has allowed us to improve scheduling efficiency.

  The community involvement helps us to identify the best ways to implement necessary changes and to communicate the changes to customers.

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  Submitted by Tina Dubost 1 year ago

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  Education for Older Drivers - Driving Retirement

  We work with the AARP to include information about public transit services as part of the AARP’s Driver Safety class. We bring a bus to the class, discuss the features, and take all the participants on a short bus ride. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) offers a similar class in safe driving for seniors. We also bring a bus to these classes and take participants on a short bus ride. These classes offer a way ...more »

  We work with the AARP to include information about public transit services as part of the AARP’s Driver Safety class. We bring a bus to the class, discuss the features, and take all the participants on a short bus ride.

  The California Highway Patrol (CHP) offers a similar class in safe driving for seniors. We also bring a bus to these classes and take participants on a short bus ride.

  These classes offer a way to reach seniors before they need paratransit. We discuss retirement from driving and encourage them to try the bus service before they need to use it. We provide a free ticket and follow up to see if the participant used it and how their experience was.

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  Submitted by Tina Dubost 1 year ago

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  Ride sharing

  Our consumers are paying 18.00 dollars each way to use county transportation.

  We have partnered with a van sharing company to provide a driver and a car to transport people to work for 2.50 dollars a ride. The van sharing company did get a grant to help support this project.

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  Submitted by Peter K 1 year ago

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  INCREASE THE CREDENTIALS OF TRAVEL INSTRUCTORS

  Let’s enhance the credentials of individuals who provide travel instruction so that they may effectively educate and train individuals with disabilities. Partnerships with accredited colleges and universities would lead to certification in travel instruction. This would increase the credentials of instructors and provide the tools they need to meet the needs of individuals with physical and cognitive impairments. A ...more »

  Let’s enhance the credentials of individuals who provide travel instruction so that they may effectively educate and train individuals with disabilities. Partnerships with accredited colleges and universities would lead to certification in travel instruction. This would increase the credentials of instructors and provide the tools they need to meet the needs of individuals with physical and cognitive impairments. A well trained instructor will have extensive training in the practices, procedures, and strategies necessary for teaching individuals with disabilities to travel on public transportation. Such effort would add value to the benefits that riders now receive through travel instruction.

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  Submitted by Althia Ellis 1 year ago

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  Hidden Disabilities

  I suggest that paratransit agencies give greater consideration to people with hidden disabilities, such as epilepsy. People with epilepsy have a difficult time obtaining paratransit services because may need it because of the severity of their seizure activity.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Human services transportation »

  Orientation access

  Orientation access is a new paradigm making the world accessible to people with visual, cognitive and learning disabilities by installing infrared transmitters that broadcast human or computer speech messages that tell what something is and exactly where it is. This is achieved when the traveler scans around with a small hand-held receiver with a speaker and hears the transmitted information. This system is called remote ...more »

  Orientation access is a new paradigm making the world accessible to people with visual, cognitive and learning disabilities by installing infrared transmitters that broadcast human or computer speech messages that tell what something is and exactly where it is. This is achieved when the traveler scans around with a small hand-held receiver with a speaker and hears the transmitted information. This system is called remote infrared audible signage (RIAS).

  With the RIAS orientation accessibility system, an individual unable to see or read standard signs can confidently move through unfamiliar public transit systems and hear public bus and train destination signs, passenger-information signs and critical crosswalk location and pedestrian signals.

  Mobility is a personal responsibility, whether White cane, dog guide or sighted guide are used. But orientation access to public transit and public places is a public responsibility and a civil right of the traveler. However, other than seldom used Braille, tactile-graphic and raised print signs, the ADA Accessibility Guidelines do not address the needs of individuals unable to see or read signs in the built and public transit environments.

  A proposed project, the National Empowerment for Wayfinding Model Accessibility Project, NewMap, will introduce the first regional, seamless, multi-modal build-out of this liberating technology, offering accessibility to all travelers for the first time.

  I strongly urge that individuals and organizations interested in expanding accessibility join with other cross-disability organizations and individuals who support this critical, unmet area of civil rights expansion.

  If you want further information on NewMap, please email me and I will email it to you.

  Jeff Moyer

  moyer@jeffmoyer.com

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  Submitted by moyer 1 year ago

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  Ridership Training

  There must be an awareness and promotion campagin to introduce disabled riders to the positive benefits of using both fixed-route buses as well as paratransit buses. The well informed rider, is a faithful rider.In the campaign; disabled riders should be used as 'spokespersons'. People learn by what/whom they see.

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  Submitted by Andrew Valentine, Jr. 1 year ago

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  Paratransit Riders

  I suggest providers be encouraged to provide the widest corredors possible for paratransit routes. The ADA allows you to provide more, but not less than the 3/4 mile radius. If vendors enlarge the areas of service; then more people will live independently, work, attend school and participate fully in their communities without undue restrictions.

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  Submitted by Andrew Valentine, Jr. 1 year ago

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  Human services transportation »

  rules

  ACCESS should develop a card or brochure outlining rules and procedures so there are no misundestandings.

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  Submitted by susan caretti 1 year ago

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  Human services transportation »

  Obtaining Entry Level Jobs in Human Services

  Assist potential workers with transportation within the day to assist them in being gainfully employed in the human services field.

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  Submitted by Marianne Gilmore 1 year ago

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  Smart policy, smart choices, smart advocacy

  Smart use of constrained resources will be necessary as the elder population grows more rapidly than the generations to follow. This means fewer wage earners in the work force looked to for the labor, funds and importantly willingness to deliver services to both the young and old. That means we need best use of technology, multidisciplinary collaborations, and sustainable cities (with Complete Streets for users of all ...more »

  Smart use of constrained resources will be necessary as the elder population grows more rapidly than the generations to follow. This means fewer wage earners in the work force looked to for the labor, funds and importantly willingness to deliver services to both the young and old. That means we need best use of technology, multidisciplinary collaborations, and sustainable cities (with Complete Streets for users of all ages and abilities). Additionally, we need personal responsibility on the part of those with needs--specifically practice of wise health habits to maintain mobility (for example obesity is largely a self imposed disability), wise land use like choosing to live close to services, sidewalks and transit, and focused political activism to "demand" what is most realistic and pragmatic---not just demands because they are wanted. Smart policy, smart choices, smart advocacy.

  A Boomer girl.....

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Tax-paying Citizen Problem

  Suppose a disabled person is qualified to do job and gets hired but can't take the job because the office is not within 3/4 miles of a bus route. If this happens, the person asks their employer for a reasonable accommodation and is told, "Sorry, getting a ride to work is the employees job and is not considered to be a reasonable work accommodation." Sadly, the disabled person has to refuse the job because the system ...more »

  Suppose a disabled person is qualified to do job and gets hired but can't take the job because the office is not within 3/4 miles of a bus route. If this happens, the person asks their employer for a reasonable accommodation and is told, "Sorry, getting a ride to work is the employees job and is not considered to be a reasonable work accommodation." Sadly, the disabled person has to refuse the job because the system is set up not to help people succeed. Civil rights are being violated but it is not under the jurisdiction of civil rights. So where do we go?

  PLAUSIBLE SOLUTIONS

  After doing some leg work, I found a solution. Paratransit needs should offer what is known as “premium service.” (http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/ada/civil_rights_3895.html)

  Unless this can be addressed and an agreement can be reached between DOL and DOT, people with disabilities will continue to be unable to be taxpayers

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  Submitted by Jason McGlynn 1 year ago

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  Human services transportation »

  Livability - infrastructure - operations - management

  In the move toward Livability within our communities perhaps there is need for caution and diligence in holding a steady eye on the target of todays levels of service to our current populations of seniors, disabled, low income,rural, etc., and as steadiness allows to cautiously and with deliberation and foresight expand the thought processes to the more steel and concrete centered initiatives such as those which seemingly ...more »

  In the move toward Livability within our communities perhaps there is need for caution and diligence in holding a steady eye on the target of todays levels of service to our current populations of seniors, disabled, low income,rural, etc., and as steadiness allows to cautiously and with deliberation and foresight expand the thought processes to the more steel and concrete centered initiatives such as those which seemingly tend to be embodied within the Livabiity Initiatives? We may do our riders a gross dis-service if our current service-oriented funding is diminished by a re-direction to infrastructure?

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  Submitted by snelson 1 year ago

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  Volunteer programs »

  Circle of Care Project Provides Innovative Solutions for Aging in Place and Livable Community Design

  Circle of Care Project is an award winning asset-based community development project which provides innovative solutions for Aging in Place and Livable Community Design. Our social innovation project connects vulnerable seniors and people with disabilites with volunteer drivers who not only provide assisted para-transportation and companion services but both parties receive free access to life enhancing community resources ...more »

  Circle of Care Project is an award winning asset-based community development project which provides innovative solutions for Aging in Place and Livable Community Design.

  Our social innovation project connects vulnerable seniors and people with disabilites with volunteer drivers who not only provide assisted para-transportation and companion services but both parties receive free access to life enhancing community resources in the area of arts and culture, concerts, theater, film, lifelong learning, recreation, social and civic engagement opportunities & more. Both volunteer and elder receive complimentary event tickets and academic scholarships to provide volunteer and elder enrichment to a meaningful destination. Our LAP Project (Library Access Partners) provides transportation services to insure a lifetime of access to library resources.

  Circle of Care Project energizes intergenerational civic engagement and establishes strategic partnerships across systems to provide older adults and volunteers of all ages, incomes and abilities with life-long access to community resources.

  Circle of Care has been recognized by AARP, Partners for Livable Community and others as a benchmark program and best practice. We feel strongly that transportation projects need to have a more comprehensive view of what insures a good quality of life. Weaving together community resources with transportation and community building by providing enlivening affordable destinations, has proven highly successful in addressing the needs of an aging populace. Mobilizing the arts, culture, transportation and educational opportunities through social/civic engagement and community partnership, positively impacts and engages an entire community. The ride alone sometimes is just not enough, we are hardwired to need people. Providing a support system to maximize transit programs as we age creates not only mobility but a sense of social belonging and opportuniites to live life with meaning and purpose.

  We look forward to sharing our program model through replication and education, scaling best practices to provide affordable, effective solutions for municipalities, social service agencies, senior markets, nonprofit organizations and others through a transfer of knowledge and hands on technical assistance.

  Circle of Care Project

  PO Box 4204

  Boulder CO, 80306

  www.circleofcareproject.org 303-449-8884/303-358-4300

  Joan Raderman, Founder & Community Developer

  Ashoka Affiliate Fellow

  joan@circleofcareproject.org

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  Submitted by Joan Raderman 1 year ago

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  Human services transportation »

  Way2Go - Comprehensive Community Mobility Information and Education

  Create a one-stop community education and information center for all mobility options. Way2Goinfo.org was created in 2008 by Tompkins County NY and contracted with Cornell Cooperative Extension to implement. Way2Go operates a website, answers individuals' questions, conducts public outreach, trains human service agency staff to use practical mobility education materials with clients, works with employers, coordinates ...more »

  Create a one-stop community education and information center for all mobility options.

  Way2Goinfo.org was created in 2008 by Tompkins County NY and contracted with Cornell Cooperative Extension to implement. Way2Go operates a website, answers individuals' questions, conducts public outreach, trains human service agency staff to use practical mobility education materials with clients, works with employers, coordinates a think tank "Faster and Further" to develop integrated services, and provide customer feedback to transportation operators. Funded as a mobility management project under JARC.

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  Submitted by Dwight Mengel 1 year ago

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  One-Stop Mobility Center as a Mobility Management Strategy

  Community mobility services often operate as individual businesses or services which require prospective customers to figure out individual solutions for themselves. In Tompkins County, people can use Way2Go, a comprehensive information and community education program for mobility options (way2goinfo.org). Not withstanding Way2Go’s community education services, there is no single point of contact for people to receive ...more »

  Community mobility services often operate as individual businesses or services which require prospective customers to figure out individual solutions for themselves. In Tompkins County, people can use Way2Go, a comprehensive information and community education program for mobility options (way2goinfo.org). Not withstanding Way2Go’s community education services, there is no single point of contact for people to receive individual counseling about services, purchase or finance their chosen mobility options, and be provided customer support - an “auto club” for alternative mobility services.

  Statement of Need:

  Need to create a one-stop mobility service center to enable customers to select and finance a bundle of mobility services – mobility solutions, tailored to individual needs.

  Objectives:

  • Resell existing providers services: bus passes, paratransit passes, carshare, taxi, vanpool, car rental, bicycle maintenance, and bicycle purchase, etc.

  • Add new services: ridesharing, bikeshare, paid volunteer driver services, guaranteed ride, etc.

  • Enable mobility solutions to be financed by budget billing, (as used by power utilities).

  • Operate on-line and physical retail services.

  • Earn public trust through extensive customer service and support accessible 24/7, including a guaranteed ride home and bicycle road calls.

  • Generate local funding to match public grants and to support developing future integrated mobility services.

  • Enable co-marketing with local businesses to generate additional revenue.

  Need to create a community co-operative enterprise to operate the service center, supported with user and local revenue.

  Need to use incentives and make investments to develop, promote and sell market-priced mobility services to the public.

  Need to target public funding to support creating the architecture (infrastructure) for an integrated mobility system and for user-side subsidies for limited income persons.

  dwight.mengel@dfa.state.ny.us

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  Submitted by Dwight Mengel 1 year ago

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  Trip by Trip Eligibility

  I suggest you...In our urban transit agency about 40 % of our ADA paratransit customers have been determined conditionally eligible for the paratransit service. Our agency is beginning to schedule trips for these customers who can use regular fixed route service under certain conditions to link with regular fixed routes. We are also developing technology so that we can determine eligibility for the paratransit trip at ...more »

  I suggest you...In our urban transit agency about 40 % of our ADA paratransit customers have been determined conditionally eligible for the paratransit service. Our agency is beginning to schedule trips for these customers who can use regular fixed route service under certain conditions to link with regular fixed routes. We are also developing technology so that we can determine eligibility for the paratransit trip at the time of the reservation. Are there any other transit agencies that are actively using trip by trip paratransit eligibility?

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  Submitted by Beverly Morris 1 year ago

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  Aging services »

  Training course for older drivers

  Older drivers are at risk of motor vehicle crashes because of deterioration of motor skills, visual and congnitive skills. develop team that inclu... physicians to increase their knowledge and awareness of older drivers issues. The team will collaborate strategies and resources to increase the public, law enforcement officers and (especially older drivers) should be on this team. And develop mandated Older driver ...more »

  Older drivers are at risk of motor vehicle crashes because of deterioration of motor skills, visual and congnitive skills. develop team that inclu... physicians to increase their knowledge and awareness of older drivers issues. The team will collaborate strategies and resources to increase the public, law enforcement officers and (especially older drivers) should be on this team. And develop mandated Older driver course for law enforcement (who write citation) and older drivers( who at risk for self and others on the road)

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  Submitted by Victoria Johnson 1 year ago

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  ADA complementary service »

  Use Mobility Seats in Taxis

  We need information about mobility seats, which were discussed in ESPA/TRB's Accessible Taxi conference on Aug 2.

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  Submitted by Dwight Mengel 1 year ago

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  Volunteer programs »

  Volunteer programs need to be accessible too!

  VBolunteer programs need to adhere to accessibility standards. Just because they are volunteer does not exemt them from non-discrimination laws. For example, when trying to reach a rural area out of state for a family wedding, was told that perhaps the volunteer drivers that serve the region could assist.....but none had a w/c van available for the volunteer drivers to schedule and use. I missed the wedding.

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  Submitted by Laura Williams 1 year ago

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  Ridership capacity

  I suggest we need to address the trend of paratransit systems reducing their operating costs by replacing their outgoing vehicles with cost saving smaller vehicles. If there is no increase in the overall number of usable vehicles and drivers in the fleet this trend will ultimately reduce the capacity of the fleet in regard to ridership but especially in regard to wheelchair usable spaces. This is of serious concern at ...more »

  I suggest we need to address the trend of paratransit systems reducing their operating costs by replacing their outgoing vehicles with cost saving smaller vehicles. If there is no increase in the overall number of usable vehicles and drivers in the fleet this trend will ultimately reduce the capacity of the fleet in regard to ridership but especially in regard to wheelchair usable spaces. This is of serious concern at a time when need and ridership is likely to increase rather than decrease.

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  Submitted by Nancy Hodgins 1 year ago

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  Human services transportation »

  Locational Decisions are Key

  Accessibility is the real issue. Transportation is a means to an end - the end is access to the community. Therefore, locational decisions, both societal and organizational, are the key to improving access to people with disabilities. All new public facilites and many large private ones should be located on existing fixed route transit lines. Even if an individual uses parartransit, being on a fixed route likely means ...more »

  Accessibility is the real issue. Transportation is a means to an end - the end is access to the community. Therefore, locational decisions, both societal and organizational, are the key to improving access to people with disabilities. All new public facilites and many large private ones should be located on existing fixed route transit lines. Even if an individual uses parartransit, being on a fixed route likely means that the location is in a more densely populated area, close to other services. Individuals also need to be willing to consider living on/near fixed routes and near services and interests they use frequently. While this won't always be possible because of resources or family commitments, being willing to move often has the potential to increase the quality of life of the individual and reduce transportation costs on society. The truth is that we are too dispersed to effectively serve everyone and resources are shrinking. We have to think about where and how we live.

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  Submitted by bsteinbach 1 year ago

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  Human services transportation »

  Human Services collation

  What are some solutions to getting the local human service collations to switch focus from youth & poverty to individuals with disabilities & senior transportation? How to you bridge that policitical area to get them to see what we have to offer for ALL?

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  Submitted by Billi Edmonds 1 year ago

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  Human services transportation »

  Collaboration with Human Service Agencies?

  What has worked for your community at bringing HSC together for senior/ADA transportation solutions? Our HSC tends to primarily focus on low-income needs and the younger population. What do we offer to get them to branch out into other needs?

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  Submitted by Billi Edmonds 1 year ago

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