Integration of Paratransit and Fixed-Route Transit Services (2008)

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44 ACCESS SERVICES INC., LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Service Area Type: Urban, Established suburban, Recently de- veloped suburban Fare Free Program Description: Access Services Inc. (ASI) has a Free Fare Pro- gram that allows ASI certified clients to ride for “free” with participating municipal operators in the Los Angeles area. Participating fixed-route operators are then reimbursed by ASI at an agreed upon rate. The intent of the program is to encourage paratransit riders to use the more cost-effective fixed-route services for their trips when possible. Principal users: Persons with disabilities Ridership (2007): 1.3 million trips were completed on fixed- route services using the fare free program. Paratransit ridership was 2.4 million trips. Fare: Fixed-route services are free for ASI certified passengers. The regular paratransit fare is $1.80 for trips under 20 miles in length. AGENCY FOR COMMUNITY TRANSIT, MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS Service Area Type: Rural Paratransit Feeder Service Description: Mandatory feeder service for conditionally eligi- ble or elderly passengers. Transfer sites are determined by passenger amenities including presence of a shelter. Transit stations are preferred locations and there are cur- rently four in the service area. Once passengers are dropped off by the feeder service, the driver provides no additional assistance. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities Ridership (2007): Paratransit—104,000 Fare: $1.50–$4.50 depending on the number of zones. Transfers to fixed-route services are free. Productivity (2007): 1.95 passengers per revenue hour AMADOR REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM (ARTS), JACKSON, CALIFORNIA Service Area Type: Rural Point/Route Deviation Service Description: All ARTS routes allow for route deviation of up to 1⁄2 mile from the fixed-route by request. Twenty-four hour advanced request is required. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities Ridership (2006): 106,042 Fare: $1.00 adults, $0.50 senior/disabled Cost (2006): $9.91 cost per passenger trip ISLAND TRANSIT, COUPEVILLE, WASHINGTON Service Area Type: Small town, Rural Point/Route Deviation Feeder Description: Island Transit operates 13 deviated fixed-routes, which will deviate up to 3⁄4 mile from the fixed-route to ac- commodate seniors and persons with disabilities upon request. Principal users of deviation: Seniors, persons with disabilities Fare: Free—All Island Transit fixed-routes are free of charge. LAKETRAN, PAINESVILLE, OHIO Service Area Type: Established Suburban Demand Responsive Connector Service Description: Laketran provides a general public dial-a-ride service to all county residents. Dial-a-Ride passengers may request a trip to park-and-ride locations to connect with com- muter routes to Cleveland and with local fixed-routes. The feeder service program is voluntary. Since Laketran’s para- transit operation covers the entire county, connector trips are only necessary for passengers who need to leave the county limits (i.e., travel to Cleveland). Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities, students, commuters Ridership (2006): Connector trips only—1,040, Dial-A-Ride— 337,000 Fare: Dial-a-ride—$1.25 in-county (senior/disabled), $2.50 out- of-county (senior/disabled), $4.00 in-county (general public), $8.00 out-of-county (general public); Fixed-route—$0.50 (senior/disabled), $1.00 (general); $2.50 for commuter express routes; Passengers must pay full fare when boarding each mode. Cost (2006): Dial-a-ride including connector—$23.24 per passen- ger trip; Fixed-route—$5.35 per passenger trip MASON TRANSIT, SHELTON, WASHINGTON Service Area Type: Small town, Rural Demand Responsive Connector Service Description: Mason Transit offers a general public dial-a-ride ser- vice for residents in their service area. Persons living off the fixed-route system or have difficulty accessing a fixed-route stop can request a trip at least two-hours in advance. The dial-a- ride service connects passengers with the fixed-route service. Principal users: Seniors, youth, “persons who have difficulty using a regular fixed-route service” Ridership (2006): Dial-a-ride including connector—55,466 APPENDIX C Summary of Surveyed Systems

45 Fare: In-county—free, Out-of-county—$1.00 (general), $0.50 (senior/ disabled) Cost (2006): Dial-a-ride including connector—2.3 passengers per revenue hour, $32.40 per passenger; Fixed-route—$7.05 per passenger Point/Route Deviation Description: Mason Transit fixed-route services will deviate a “limited” distance off the fixed-route to accommodate passen- gers who have difficulty getting to a bus stop. Route deviation depends on the road conditions in the area. Passengers request- ing deviated service must call at least two hours in advance to request the trip. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities Fare: In-county—free, Out-of-county—$1.00 (general), $0.50 (senior/disabled) MASS TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (MTA), FLINT, MICHIGAN Service Area Type: Urban, Established suburban Demand Responsive Connector: Your Ride Description: Your Ride is a curb-to-curb service operated in the city of Flint and Genesee County that provides connections to fixed-route service at the end of the lines and at the downtown transfer center. Your Ride is available to persons with disabil- ities and seniors within the city of Flint and to the general public in Genesee County not residing in Flint. Passengers must sched- ule a ride through a Your Ride Service Center one to seven days in advance. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities, students, commuters Ridership (2007): 649,248 Fare: Your Ride—$2.50 (general), $1.50 (ADA certified); Fixed- route—$1.25 (general), $0.50 (ADA certified); Transfers— $0.10. Passengers pay for the first leg of their trip and present the transfer for the second leg. Cost (2007): Your Ride—2.76 passengers per revenue hour, $7.96 per passenger trip; Fixed-route—$1.45 per passenger trip MOUNTAIN MOBILITY, ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA Service Area Type: Suburban, Rural Point/Route Deviation Feeder: Black Mountain and Enka- Candler Trailblazers Description: Mountain Mobility offers one fixed-route in Black Mountain and three fixed-routes in the Enka–Candler area. Passengers can flag down a bus anywhere along the route to get a ride. Enka–Candler routes make connections with Asheville Transit buses at Biltmore Square Mall and the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. The Black Mountain route connects with Asheville Transit at Black Mountain Train Depot. Due to the limited service spans of the routes, Mountain Mobility may not be available at all times for pas- sengers to connect to Asheville Transit. Passengers needing connections to Asheville Transit when Mountain Mobility routes are not available can request a ride to connect to the ser- vices. Passengers must call one to two days in advance to make a reservation. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities, students Ridership (2007): Point/route deviation service—8,238, Dial-a- ride—113,961 Fare: $0.50 Productivity (2007): Point/route deviation service—2.31 pas- sengers per revenue hour; Dial-a-ride—2.23 passengers per revenue hour OAHU TRANSIT SERVICES, INC. (OTS), HONOLULU, HAWAII Service Area Type: Urban, Established suburban, Rural Point/Route Deviation: TheBus Community Access Service Description: OTS provides point/route deviation service on four transit lines. These routes have a fixed-route and schedule but will deviate 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 mile from the fixed-route (depending on the route) in order to accommodate Handi-Van eligible pas- sengers. Deviation requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Community Access routes are operated using mini- buses and vans painted with the TheBus color scheme along with the words “Community Access.” OTS has an agreement with the driver’s union that states that deviated service will be limited to new routes and cannot exceed six routes. Principal users: Seniors, commuters, youth Ridership (2007): Community Access Service Routes—83,697, Paratransit—807,935 Fare: Fixed-route—$2.00 (general), $1.00 (senior/disabled); Paratransit—$2.00 Productivity (2007): Community Access Service Routes—7.72 passengers per revenue hour, Paratransit—2.5 passengers per revenue hour SACRAMENTO REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT (RT), SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA Service Area Type: Urban, Established suburban, Recently de- veloped suburban Paratransit Feeder Description: Paratransit passengers may request feeder service to light rail stations. Use of this type of service is voluntary, lim- ited in use, and is not actively promoted. Paratransit eligible passengers may also use the fixed-route service at no charge. Principal users: Persons with disabilities Ridership (FY 2007): 310,480 total paratransit, no count of feeder trips available Fare: $4.00 Productivity (FY 2007): 1.56 passengers per revenue hour, $44.00 per passenger Point/Route Deviation: Neighborhood Ride Description: RT operates nine general public fixed-routes fo- cused on neighborhoods. The routes operate on a fixed-route and schedule but deviate off-route up to 3⁄4 of a mile to provide curb-to-curb service. Deviated service is available to seniors age 62 and older and persons with disabilities who have a valid ADA/paratransit pass. Passengers requesting deviated service must schedule their trip at least one day in advance. Neighborhood Ride routes are operated using smaller vehicles than regular fixed-routes. RT has encouraged use of the Neighborhood Ride service by paratransit users living near a Neighborhood Ride route on a limited basis. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities Fare: $1.00 (general), $0.50 (senior/disabled); route deviation costs an additional $1.00 Cost (FY 2007): All fixed-route and Neighborhood Ride services combined—$4.81 per passenger trip, Paratransit—$44.00 per passenger trip

SAMTRANS, SAN MATEO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Service Area Type: Established suburban Paratransit Feeder Description: SamTrans provides an informal, voluntary feeder service for paratransit passengers who wish to schedule trips to connect to fixed-route services including buses, BART, and CalTrain. Paratransit passengers are encouraged to use rail services when possible due to their convenience for longer trips. Principal users: Persons with disabilities Fare: $2.50 Point/Route Deviation Feeder: Bayshore/Brisbane Shuttle Description: The Bayshore/Brisbane Shuttle operates on a fixed-route and schedule but will deviate upon request. Pas- sengers requesting a deviation must call the driver to request a trip. The driver attempts to fulfill the trip on the same day if possible. If the driver is unable to schedule for that day, he/she will offer a ride for the next day. The route serves the Brisbane CalTrain Station and Brisbane park-and-ride lot. Service to major shopping centers is provided on specified days. Principal users: Commuters, seniors, persons with disabilities Ridership: 14% of riders are persons with disabilities SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT (SJRTD), STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA Service Area Type: Urban, Established suburban, Rural Point/Route Deviation: Hopper Description: SJRTD operates five Hopper routes connecting rural San Joaquin County communities to urban and suburban communities where services are concentrated. Hopper service operates along a fixed-route and schedule but will deviate up to 3/4 mile from the fixed-route to provide service to ADA cer- tified persons with disabilities and seniors not able to reach fixed-route stops. The service is actively marketed and uses smaller buses with a unique paint scheme. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities, students Ridership (2007): Hopper—134,589, Paratransit—83,773 Cost (2007): Hopper—4.60 passengers per revenue hour, $19.92 per passenger trip; Paratransit—2.20 passengers per revenue hour, $68.67 per passenger trip; Fixed-route—$5.93 per pas- senger trip SARASOTA COUNTY AREA TRANSIT (SCAT), SARASOTA, FLORIDA Service Area Type: Urban, Established suburban, Recently de- veloped suburban Demand Responsive Connector: SCAT-About 46 Description: SCAT-About was a curb-to-curb service operated by SCAT. Reservations were required to use the service, except at the South County Transfer Point. The service was designed to curtail ADA paratransit trips and encourage use of the fixed- route system. The service was discontinued. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities Ridership (2007): 5,036 Fare: Paratransit—$1.50; Fixed-route—$0.75 (general), $0.35 (senior/disabled) Productivity (2007): SCAT-About—3.0 passengers per revenue hour, $32.00 per passenger trip; Fixed-route—$5.44 per pas- senger trip WHATCOM TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (WTA), BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Service Area Type: Urban, Established suburban, Small town Demand Responsive Connector: Safety Net Description: Safety Net operates in rural, unincorporated areas of Whatcom County that are beyond the ADA paratransit service area, one to two days per week. The lifeline service is open to the general public but due to the limited service span, the largest por- tion of riders is seniors and persons with disabilities. Safety Net connects passengers from their homes to the main transit centers in Bellingham. Persons requesting a trip can call between two hours from the scheduled departure time of the trip to one week before the trip. Passengers generally use the service to access shopping, medical, and adult day healthcare purposes. In order to limit costs, WTA actively observes service area boundaries and limits the number of days that Safety Net operates. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities, youth Ridership (2006): 1,446 Fare: $0.75 (general), $0.35 (senior/disabled) Productivity and Cost (2006): Safety Net—2.34 passengers per revenue hour, $30.97 per passenger trip (includes paratransit); Paratransit—3.15 passengers per revenue hour; Fixed-route— $4.66 per passenger trip Point/Route Deviation: FLEX Description: FLEX routes operate on a fixed-route and schedule but deviate off-route within a specified area by request. Pas- sengers can request a route deviation from one week to two hours before their trip. Deviated service is available to the general public. WTA currently operates three FLEX routes. FLEX was created to better serve areas where demand is not high enough for a regular fixed-route and to save costs by not having to operate both a fixed-route service and a comple- mentary paratransit service. A mixture of both smaller cutaway vehicles and buses are used. Principal users: Seniors, persons with disabilities, youth, com- muters, students Ridership (2006): 95,754 Fare: $0.75 (general), $0.35 (senior/disabled) Productivity (2006): FLEX—9.69 passengers per revenue hour, $9.93 per passenger trip (estimated); Paratransit—3.15 pas- sengers per revenue hour, $30.74 per passenger trip; Fixed- route—$4.21 per passenger trip