Orange County NC Website
8 <br /> INTRODUCTION <br /> The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires that public entities that operate non- <br /> commuter fixed route transportation services also provide complementary Paratransit service for <br /> individuals whose disabilities make them unable to use the fixed route system. In addition, public <br /> entities subject to the ADA regulations must develop and administer a process for determining if <br /> individuals who request service meet the regulatory requirements for eligibility. <br /> Essentially, the ADA requires that Paratransit service be "comparable" to the fixed route service in <br /> terms of service levels and availability. There are six (6) service criteria that are used to evaluate ADA <br /> Paratransit service comparability to the fixed route. These criteria only represent the minimum service <br /> standards and can be exceeded if the local governing body so chooses. The six (6) basic criteria for <br /> determining ADA comparability to fixed route service are as follows: <br /> 1. Availability in the same area served by the fixed route. Specifically service must be made <br /> available to all origins and destinations within a width of% of a mile on each side of each fixed <br /> route. This includes an area within % miles radius at the end of each fixed route as well; <br /> 2. Available to any ADA Paratransit eligible persons at any requested time on any <br /> particular day in response to a request for service made the previous day; <br /> 3. There can be no trip restrictions or priorities based on trip purpose; <br /> 4. Service must be made available to eligible persons on a next day basis; and <br /> 5. There can be no constraints on the amount of service that is provided to anyeligible <br /> person. Specifically, there can be no operating practice that significantly limits the <br /> availability of service to ADA Paratransit eligible individuals. <br /> ADA Paratransit service must be provided to all individuals who are unable, because of their <br /> disability, to use the fixed route system, some of the time or all of the time. The criteria for <br /> determining eligibility are also regulated by the ADA and Orange County Public Transportation <br /> (OCPT) must have a documented process in place to determine if an individual qualifies for ADA <br /> service. <br /> Description of Fixed Route System: OCPT consists of three (3) routes that operate from 8:00am to <br /> 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. All routes are accessible to persons with disabilities and persons who <br /> use wheelchairs. A map of the current fixed route is attached as Appendix A. <br /> Fleet Inventory: As required by the ADA, OUT has a 100%wheelchair accessible transit fleet to ensure <br /> that persons needing a wheelchair have equivalent access to our transportation services as <br /> ambulatory persons. <br /> Maintenance of accessible features on vehicles as required by the ADA is maintained to a high level, so <br /> that persons needing these features receive equivalent service. If for some reason the lift is not <br /> working, another lift-equipped vehicle will be provided within 30 minutes. Bus operators will also <br /> make major stop announcements. <br /> OCPT ADA PARATRANSIT SERVICE PLAN <br /> Six service criteria are included in the ADA regulations for complementary paratransit. The <br /> OCPT ADA/Paratransit Plan 1 <br /> Adopted:3.6.2020 <br />