Valley Metro Regional Paratransit Plan Public Meeting January

Valley Metro Regional Paratransit Plan Public Meeting January 27, 2016

Purpose of the Plan § Ongoing effort by Valley Metro and its Member Communities to review and strengthen regional ADA Dial-A-Ride (DAR) services § Goal #1: Increase the regional consistency of DAR policies and procedures § Goal #2: Develop regional DAR service that reduces or eliminates transfers 2

Status of Plan Development § 18 -month effort working with a Technical Working Group (TWG) (Member Communities and DAR operations) and a Stakeholder Group (riders and disability organizations) § Draft Final Report prepared and reviewed by TWG; 14 recommendations for improving service § Valley Metro Transit Management Committee action scheduled February 3 at 11: 00 a. m. § Valley Metro Board action scheduled for February 18 at 12: 15 p. m. 3

Purpose of Today’s Public Meeting To present and receive comments on 14 specific recommendations that will be presented to the Valley Metro Board § Summary of recommendations available § Draft Final Report posted on Valley Metro website 4

Recommendation #1 Eliminate transfers between DAR areas § “One-seat” regional service for ADA eligible riders making ADA eligible trips § Regional service provided by Valley Metro’s regional DAR contractor § Service to be “shared-ride” (other pickups and dropoffs along the way) § $4 one-way fare For non-ADA trips local jurisdictions can opt in. 5

Current Service Design § Travel between DAR areas requires transfers at designated transfer locations 6

Proposed Service Design § Local trips still provided by each DAR throughout their area § Regional trips provided direct “shared-ride” 7

Recommendation #2 Revise ADA paratransit visitor policies and procedures § Refer visitors to Mobility Center § Mobility Center will gather appropriate documentation and then enter visitors in regional rider database for use by all DARs § 30 days of service as a visitor within a 365 -day period; Must apply through full local process for additional service 8

Recommendation #3 Consistent service area definitions § ADA DAR service area defined as: • Areas within three quarters (3/4) of a mile of a transit route or light rail station • Areas meeting the ADA “core service area” definition § Non-ADA service defined by each community that provides non-ADA service 9

Recommendation #4 Consistent service days and hours § ADA DAR service defined by (the same as) fixed-route service in the areas of the pickup and drop-off § Non-ADA service defined by each community that provides non-ADA service 10

Recommendation #5 More consistent trip reservation hours ADA Trip Reservations: § East Valley, Northwest Valley and regional service § Glendale and Peoria § Phoenix Non-ADA Trip Reservations: § Established by each community 6 a. m. – 7: 30 p. m. 8 a. m. – 5 p. m. 8 a. m. – 9 p. m. Continue to work on even more regional consistency 11

Recommendation #6 Consistent advance reservation policy § ADA trips accepted one to 14 days in advance § Non-ADA advance reservation period to be defined by each community that provides non-ADA service 12

Recommendation #7 Consistent ADA paratransit subscription trip policies § Trips that are made at least once per week § Trips that are made for a period of at least one month § Trips that are to/from the same places, at the same times, on the same day or days Non-ADA subscription policies set by each community that provides non-ADA service 13

Recommendation #8 Consistent trip booking procedures for both ADA and non-ADA services § Riders can book trips by requesting a pickup time or a desired arrival (appointment) time, but not both. § For ADA trips, providers can offer times within one hour of times requested. Non-ADA trips can be negotiated more. § Travel times to be comparable to fixed-route times for the same trip. 14

Recommendation #9 Consistent pickup and drop-off window policies for both ADA and non-ADA services § Pickups on-time if made within 30 minute window § Start and end times of window communicated to riders (rather than a specific pickup time) § Drop-offs on-time if made no more than 30 minutes before appointment times 15

Recommendation #10 More consistent boarding window (vehicle wait time) policies for both ADA and non-ADA services § For regional service and all local DARs except Glendale, vehicles will wait at least 5 minutes within the pickup window § For Glendale local service, vehicles will wait at least 2 minutes within the pickup window 16

Recommendation #11 More consistent rider assistance policies for both ADA and non-ADA services § For regional service and all local DARs except Peoria and Glendale, service will be door-to-door § For Peoria and Glendale local service, service will be curb-to-curb, with assistance to/from the door when needed § For all services, drivers cannot lose sight of vehicles if other passengers on-board § “Call-out” strategies to be explored by all DARs 17

Recommendation #12 Consistent package assistance policies for both ADA and non-ADA services § All DARs to provide assistance with packages up to 2 cubic feet (3 brown paper grocery bags, or 6 plastic grocery bags) weighing up to 50 pounds total § Assistance on/off vehicle and to/from door if requested § One piece of luggage plus carry-on § Drivers will carry unoccupied child car seat, but not child in a car seat 18

Recommendation #13 Consistent unaccompanied children policies ADA service: § Children 7 years of age or less must be accompanied by an adult Non-ADA service: § Policies set locally (e. g. , 10 in Glendale; 16 in Peoria) 19

Recommendation #14 Consistent no-show policies for ADA paratransit § NS Definition: Vehicle arrives within window, waits required time, and the rider is not there or does not board § Late Cancel: < 2 hours before scheduled time § Will be excused if beyond rider control § If 3+ NS or LC in 30 days will trigger review of trip record § Warning for first occurrence of 3+ than are >10% of all trip requests § 2 nd occurrence in same calendar year: 7 day suspension § 3 rd occurrence in same calendar year: 14 day suspension § 4 th occurrence in same calendar year: 30 day suspension § Suspension letters with how to appeal sent at least 14 days in advance. Suspension stayed if appeal requested No-show policies for non-ADA service set locally 20

Questions/Comments 21

Next Steps § Recommendations will be brought to Transit Management Committee (TMC) on February 3 at 11: 00 a. m. in the Valley Metro Board Room § Recommendations will be brought to Valley Metro Board on February 18 at 12: 15 p. m. in the Valley Metro Board Room § July 1, 2016 implementation planned (pending Board approval) 22

For questions or additional comments, contact: Dolores Nolan Valley Metro Community Relations 101 N. First Avenue, Suite 1300 Phoenix AZ 85003 602. 523. 6070 602. 523. 6095 fax DNolan@valleymetro. org 23