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WHY
DO WE HAVE PARATRANSIT?
The
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), a civil rights bill, was
designed to remove barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from
fully participating in American society.
In the area of public transportation the ADA
clearly states that regular bus service should be the primary means of
public transportation for everyone, including people with disabilities.
Under
the ADA, transit agencies like the Westchester County Department of
Transportation are required to provide curb-to-curb, demand-responsive
ParaTransit service that “mirrors” their fixed-route service
(in terms of service times and areas).
The service is a “safety Net”, it is only for those persons
who do not have the functional
capability to ride fixed-route Bee-Line buses.
Westchester County’s service is called Bee-Line ParaTransit.
WHAT
DOES BEE-LINE PARATRANSIT DO?
Bee-Line
ParaTransit is a shared ride service for which appointments must be made
from one day to 4 days in advance. Since
it is a curb-to-curb service, no assistance is provided to individuals
between the door of their starting point or destination and the
ParaTransit vehicles do not go into driveways or parking lots.
ParaTransit does not provide service to any area outside of
Westchester County. Although
ParaTransit currently provides some services beyond those required under
ADA, the goal in the future is for ParaTransit service to more closely “mirror”
regular Bee-Line bus service.
All
ParaTransit riders can travel within Westchester County during Core
Service Hours, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; on Saturdays
from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Under ADA, ParaTransit is only required to provide service if
both the starting point and destination of a trip are located within 3/4
mile of a regular Bee-Line bus route and only during hours when that
regular Bee-Line bus route is in service.
Some ParaTransit riders whose trips begin and end within the 3/4
mile limit can travel during Additional Service Hours, Mondays through
Fridays, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. to
11 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There will be no ParaTransit on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. On other holidays, service will be similar to the bus
schedules on the routes in the areas of the trip origin and destination.
If
a trip on a regular Bee-Line bus requires a transfer, then a ParaTransit
rider going from a similar starting point to a similar destination may
also have to move to another ParaTransit van at a convenient transfer
point. Whenever service is
modified or fares are changed, complete information on the changes will be
provided.
WHO
IS ELIGIBLE TO USE BEE-LINE PARATRANSIT?
Under
the ADA, disability alone does not qualify a person to ride ParaTransit.
A
person must be functionally unable to use the fixed-route regular Bee-Line
service. ParaTransit service
is provided to the following three general groups of persons with
disabilities:
-
Persons
who have specific impairment-related conditions which make it impossible
—
not just
difficult —
to travel to or from the bus stop.
-
Persons
who need a wheelchair lift-equipped bus, but it is not available on
the fixed-route when they need to travel.
-
Persons
who are unable to board, ride or exit from the regular Bee-Line buses
even if they are able to get to a bus stop and the bus is equipped
with a wheelchair lift.
HOW
CAN I APPLY FOR BEE-LINE PARATRANSIT?
A
prospective applicant may call or write to the Office for the Disabled for
information and/or to request an Application for Certification of ADA
Eligibility at:
Westchester County Office for the Disabled
Attn.: ParaTransit
148 Martine Avenue, room 102
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 995-2956
(TTY: 995-7393)
The
application is printed in 16-point type.
The application form is also available in other formats such as
large print, Braille or audio cassette upon request.
Upon
completion of the application you must contact The Office for the Disabled
at (914) 995-2960 or 995-2956 to set up an interview to review your
application, ParaTransit will
be provided upon request to and from your interview only.
Please note that ParaTransit fare will cost $3.00 each way.
The applicant must bring all supporting documentation requested on
the application form. You may
also attach any other documentation which you wish to have considered as
part of the eligibility process. You
may receive assistance from other people in filling out the application.
Any person providing assistance should be identified on the
application form in the designated space.
You may contact the Office for the Disabled at
(914) 995-2956 for
additional information. Please
make sure that the application is complete; incomplete applications will
delay the review process. If
any information is not true or misrepresents the facts, the applicant will
be found ineligible.
The
Office for the Disabled determines eligibility based principally on the
application form and the information submitted with it.
An applicant must establish that he/she is at least 12 years of age
and functionally unable to use regular Bee-Line transit. An applicant may be required to provide additional
information regarding his/her disability and his/her ability to
independently use regular Bee-Line bus transit.
Failure to provide any requested information will be conclusively
deemed a withdrawal of the ParaTransit application.
If
someone requires the assistance of another person to be able to travel on
ParaTransit, this person will be allowed to travel with them and will not
be required to pay a fare. However,
this person must board and leave the vehicle at the same location as the
ParaTransit registered person. The
fact that an attendant is required for travel must be indicated on the
application or else any person accompanying the eligible person will be
considered a friend or companion and will have to pay a fare.
WHAT
ARE THE DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY CATEGORIES?
All
applicants for ADA ParaTransit eligibility will be informed of their
eligibility status in writing within 21 business days of the date the
completed application was filed with the Office for the Disabled.
Each applicant deemed eligible for ParaTransit will be assigned to
one of the three Eligibility Categories.
Conditional
- Conditional
eligibility will apply to individuals who are able to use regular Bee-Line
transit service for some trips, but may require ParaTransit for
other trips or in special circumstances.
Eligibility for ParaTransit trips will be determined on a
trip-by-trip basis and will be based on the individual’s functional
ability to independently use regular Bee-Line buses for some trips or part
of a particular trip.
Unconditional
- Unconditional
eligibility will apply to individuals who have been judged functionally
unable to independently use regular Bee-Line service in any circumstance.
Temporary
- Temporary
eligibility will apply to individuals with temporary physical
disabilities, or visually or cognitively impaired individuals who have not
been “mobility trained”. Temporary
eligibility lasts for the expected term of the disability, or until a
visually or cognitively impaired individual has had an opportunity to
become “mobility trained”, but in any event no longer than 12 months.
After the 12 month period, individuals who were granted temporary
eligibility must reapply and be reevaluated if they desire to continue
using ParaTransit.
When
an applicant has been found eligible for Bee-Line ParaTransit, that person
will receive a packet of materials providing information on how to make
reservations, the rights and responsibilities of riders, how to make
complaints and other important information.
IF
DENIED ELIGIBILITY, HOW CAN I APPEAL?
If
you do not meet the ADA eligibility criteria you will be informed of this
decision in writing within 21 business days.
The letter will explain the reasons for denial as related to the
eligibility criteria. You
have the right to appeal the denial of eligibility, the level of
eligibility granted or a particular trip on regular Bee-Line bus(es) for
those with conditional eligibility. The
Office for the Disabled handles all eligibility related appeals.
You must initiate an appeal by contacting the Office for the
Disabled in writing within 60 days of the date of the denial letter.
A letter will then be sent explaining your appeal options.
The options are: appearing in person with additional information or
just sending in additional written materials.
An
Appeals Committee will review the original decision made by the Office for
the Disabled and will make a final decision as to eligibility. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be communicated
in writing within 30 business days after the appeal record is complete.
If a final decision is not made in writing within this period,
ParaTransit service will be available such time as the final decision is
made.
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