Regional Transit Budget Crisis to Affect Service to Disabled and Elderly

Posted: 8/7/2010

Sacramento, CA - Citing a fiscal emergency the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) has announced it intends to significantly reduce its contribution to Paratransit, Inc. for the provision of transportation services for the disabled and elderly. The result will lead to changes in service boundaries, eligibility requirements and certain fares.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), RT is obligated to provide transportation services for certain certified ADA individuals and has contracted with Paratransit to provide this service.

"Recognizing the reality of the budget situation, we at Paratransit had to make some really tough decisions," said Linda Deavans, Chief Executive Officer at Paratransit. "Our goal is to provide as much service as we possibly can under the circumstances."

Beginning July 1, 2010, Paratransit announces the following changes to its service:

Service Boundary: Under the ADA, trips that begin and end within a ¾-mile radius of an active RT route or light rail station must be provided for certified ADA individuals. Earlier this year, RT eliminated 20% of its fixed route service resulting in fewer eligible trips. RT also reduced hours closing most service by 9 p.m. The reductions in service by RT mean that they are no longer obligated to provide ADA service via Paratransit where the routes have been eliminated or times reduced. Paratransit will, however, try to provide as much non-ADA service as possible despite the cuts but advises passengers to expect service denials due to insufficient capacity.

Paratransit will be forced to eliminate nearly all service to Elk Grove.

Eligibility: To be eligible, a rider must be registered as an ADA certified individual. Beginning July 1, 2010, RT will begin identifying and recertifying passengers registered solely on the basis of age. Passengers are encouraged to register with RT as soon as possible to ensure they are eligible for transportation services.

Fare Structure: Paratransit will continue providing most trips that do not meet ADA criteria but ADA monthly passes will no longer be accepted for these trips. Instead, the fare will be $5 one-way, except airport one-way fares will be $50.

Hours of Operation: Paratransit plans no changes in its hours of operation. However, trips requested when RT is not operating are not considered ADA-qualified meaning there may be denials for service. Riders are encouraged to be as flexible as possible in negotiating ride times to help minimize non-ADA ride denials.

For questions about the changes in service to the disabled and elderly, including which trips qualify as ADA, passengers are encouraged to call Paratransit's Mobility Management Center at (916) 868-6214 or 868-6219. More information can also be found at the Paratransit website at www.paratransit.org (click on the News button).

Founded in 1978, Paratransit, Inc. is a private nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing transportation services to individuals with disabilities, the elderly and related agencies throughout the Sacramento County area. Today, the organization operates 150 vehicles, works with 40 different human services agencies and provides more than 800,000 trips annually for the disabled and elderly in the Sacramento area.