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The changes are intended to make the Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service more useful to the riders who need it, officials say.
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People seeking to use the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority's specialized service for disabled riders will have to appear for interviews as part of the certification process after an updated operations policy takes effect later this month.
Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service policy changes that the TARTA board of trustees approved Thursday include allowing riders with permanent disabilities to be declared permanently eligible to use the service, which offers door-to-door transportation for people unable to use regular bus routes. The availability of same-day rides for nonemergency medical appointments will become official policy, albeit at a "premium" fare.
But those who habitually fail to pay for their rides will face the possible suspension of their riding privileges, just as those who repeatedly fail to cancel unneeded rides already face.
The policy updates, which take effect March 20, are intended to make TARPS more useful to riders who need it, transit officials said, while discouraging behavior that hurts the service's productivity and weeding out people who have obtained their paratransit eligibility improperly.
"Passengers tell us that, without interviews, there are people riding TARPS who shouldn't be," James Gee, the transit authority's general manager, said. "By putting in this safeguard, it makes the service available to those who truly need it."
TARTA is obligated by the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide alternative service for those whose disabilities keep them from being able to ride regular bus service.
Federal policy dictates that such service be available within three-quarters of a mile of regular bus routes at all hours regular buses operate, but TARPS is available throughout the TARTA service area during all transit service hours, even if the closest bus route doesn't run full-time. TARTA's service area includes Toledo, Ottawa Hills, Sylvania, Sylvania Township, Spencer Township, Maumee, Waterville, Perrysburg, and Rossford.
But while the $2 fare for TARPS rides is double the normal TARTA fare, the average paratransit trip costs the transit authority nearly four times as much — $25 per rider, instead of $6.33 per trip for riders of regular bus service, based on the agency's overhead and operating expenses.
And TARPS ridership has grown dramatically in recent years, from 137,000 in 2008 to 220,000 last year, with that trend expected to continue: The transit authority's 2011 budget provides $4,539,470 to operate TARPS, up 27.4 percent over the $3,561,577 budgeted last year.
Francis Frey, a transit authority trustee, said the policy update will allow the transit authority to get the best value from the money it spends on paratransit.
"The idea is to get the service out there for the folks that need it, and make the most efficient use of those resources," Mr. Frey said. "We're restricted by funds."
TARPS has 3,308 people on its roster of eligible riders. Jim Calhoun, TARTA's marketing director, said that's about 2,000 fewer than it was before the agency went through its records and removed names of those who had not ridden recently.
All who remain as riders will be notified by letter when their eligibility is about to expire, so they can schedule renewal interviews, Mr. Calhoun said.
TARTA will provide free rides to its offices for the interviews, according to the new policy.
In the past, applicants have needed only to fill out a questionnaire and obtain a supporting doctor's letter.
Deb Angel, a local transit advocate who served on a citizens' committee that reviewed the policy update, said that while it didn't include everything she'd like to see, "it's going to be an improvement."
Ms. Angel said she urged the transit authority to offer free rides on regular TARTA buses for paratransit-eligible travelers, as a way to encourage them to ride the regular buses whenever possible. TARPS riders include some considered "conditional" who can ride regular buses at least some of the time but need the specialized service at other times, such as during icy weather or if their medical conditions vary.
The transit authorities in Cleveland and Columbus offer free rides to paratransit clients, Ms. Angel said. Waiving the 50-cent fare TARTA charges for disabled riders "would free up many more TARPS resources" and be more than offset by the subsidy savings.
Mr. Gee said such free rides may well be offered in the future, but first the stricter eligibility screening system for TARPS needs to have been in place for a while.
"Anything we can do to migrate people from TARPS to TARTA saves us money and frees up resources," he said.
Jon Elston, the transit authority's director of paratransit services, said fare nonpayment "is not a significant problem," but there are some riders who have abused TARPS' willingness to take them home when they don't pay a fare.
Under the new policy, rides home will not be denied, but nonpayment will be added to the causes for the individual's service to be considered for suspension.
Contact David Patch at: dpatch@theblade.com or 419-724-6094.
Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. If a comment violates these standards or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report abuse. To post comments, you must be a Facebook member. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.
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Published: 3/5/2011 - Updated: 1 year ago
Riders must interview for TARPS services
Rule updates to take effect on March 20
The changes are intended to make the Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service more useful to the riders who need it, officials say.
THE BLADE
Enlarge
| Photo Reprints
Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service policy changes that the TARTA board of trustees approved Thursday include allowing riders with permanent disabilities to be declared permanently eligible to use the service, which offers door-to-door transportation for people unable to use regular bus routes. The availability of same-day rides for nonemergency medical appointments will become official policy, albeit at a "premium" fare.
But those who habitually fail to pay for their rides will face the possible suspension of their riding privileges, just as those who repeatedly fail to cancel unneeded rides already face.
The policy updates, which take effect March 20, are intended to make TARPS more useful to riders who need it, transit officials said, while discouraging behavior that hurts the service's productivity and weeding out people who have obtained their paratransit eligibility improperly.
"Passengers tell us that, without interviews, there are people riding TARPS who shouldn't be," James Gee, the transit authority's general manager, said. "By putting in this safeguard, it makes the service available to those who truly need it."
TARTA is obligated by the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide alternative service for those whose disabilities keep them from being able to ride regular bus service.
Federal policy dictates that such service be available within three-quarters of a mile of regular bus routes at all hours regular buses operate, but TARPS is available throughout the TARTA service area during all transit service hours, even if the closest bus route doesn't run full-time. TARTA's service area includes Toledo, Ottawa Hills, Sylvania, Sylvania Township, Spencer Township, Maumee, Waterville, Perrysburg, and Rossford.
But while the $2 fare for TARPS rides is double the normal TARTA fare, the average paratransit trip costs the transit authority nearly four times as much — $25 per rider, instead of $6.33 per trip for riders of regular bus service, based on the agency's overhead and operating expenses.
And TARPS ridership has grown dramatically in recent years, from 137,000 in 2008 to 220,000 last year, with that trend expected to continue: The transit authority's 2011 budget provides $4,539,470 to operate TARPS, up 27.4 percent over the $3,561,577 budgeted last year.
Francis Frey, a transit authority trustee, said the policy update will allow the transit authority to get the best value from the money it spends on paratransit.
"The idea is to get the service out there for the folks that need it, and make the most efficient use of those resources," Mr. Frey said. "We're restricted by funds."
TARPS has 3,308 people on its roster of eligible riders. Jim Calhoun, TARTA's marketing director, said that's about 2,000 fewer than it was before the agency went through its records and removed names of those who had not ridden recently.
All who remain as riders will be notified by letter when their eligibility is about to expire, so they can schedule renewal interviews, Mr. Calhoun said.
TARTA will provide free rides to its offices for the interviews, according to the new policy.
In the past, applicants have needed only to fill out a questionnaire and obtain a supporting doctor's letter.
Deb Angel, a local transit advocate who served on a citizens' committee that reviewed the policy update, said that while it didn't include everything she'd like to see, "it's going to be an improvement."
Ms. Angel said she urged the transit authority to offer free rides on regular TARTA buses for paratransit-eligible travelers, as a way to encourage them to ride the regular buses whenever possible. TARPS riders include some considered "conditional" who can ride regular buses at least some of the time but need the specialized service at other times, such as during icy weather or if their medical conditions vary.
The transit authorities in Cleveland and Columbus offer free rides to paratransit clients, Ms. Angel said. Waiving the 50-cent fare TARTA charges for disabled riders "would free up many more TARPS resources" and be more than offset by the subsidy savings.
Mr. Gee said such free rides may well be offered in the future, but first the stricter eligibility screening system for TARPS needs to have been in place for a while.
"Anything we can do to migrate people from TARPS to TARTA saves us money and frees up resources," he said.
Jon Elston, the transit authority's director of paratransit services, said fare nonpayment "is not a significant problem," but there are some riders who have abused TARPS' willingness to take them home when they don't pay a fare.
Under the new policy, rides home will not be denied, but nonpayment will be added to the causes for the individual's service to be considered for suspension.
Contact David Patch at: dpatch@theblade.com or 419-724-6094.
Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. If a comment violates these standards or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report abuse. To post comments, you must be a Facebook member. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.
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