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<br />7 <br /> <br />A Personal Care Attendant (PCA)/Caregiver will be permitted to accompany ADA eligible riders on <br />ADA eligible trips at no charge. The County will require that applicants state the need for a PCA <br />during the eligibility application process. A PCA/Caregiver is not considered to be a companion or <br />guest. <br />Companion Policy <br />One companion/guest will be allowed to accompany an ADA eligible complementary paratransit <br />passenger on an ADA eligible paratransit trip. More than one companion will be allowed on a space <br />available basis. Companions/guests are required to pay the applicable paratransit fare. <br />Door to Door Assistance Policy <br />It is the policy of Orange County Public Transit to provide complementary paratransit services <br />within the ¾ mile service area boundary of the County’s non-commuter bus routes. Transportation <br />service is provided by ADA accessible buses or vans. <br />Drivers are trained to provide minimal assistance only. Drivers will provide assistance to passengers <br />entering and exiting the vehicle which includes securing the passenger in a seat or wheelchair <br />restraints and handling a limited amount of light weight packages into and out of the vehicle. When <br />requested, drivers will also assist passengers from the door of their origin to the vehicle and from <br />the vehicle to the door of their destination. Drivers are not expected to assist passengers into their <br />homes or other destinations. Drivers are not considered personal care attendants, nor are they <br />trained to provide medical assistance. <br />Shopping Trips <br />To ensure timely service, passengers are expected only to bring what they can safely carry on their <br />own in one trip or with assistance of a personal care attendant (PCA). Passengers must keep their <br />packages secure, and packages may not occupy another needed passenger seat or obstruct the aisle <br />way. Passengers are welcome to bring a collapsible shopping cart on board the vehicle to assist them <br />with their purchases. <br />Trip Cancellation Policy for a Scheduled Trip <br />Passengers are encouraged to be cooperative in reducing cancellations. Cancellations are disruptive <br />to the overall operation and the time could have been scheduled by another passenger. There is no <br />penalty for a cancellation as long as the Dispatch office is notified at least one (1) hour in advance of <br />the scheduled pick-up time. Passengers are encouraged to give as much notice as possible if unable <br />to keep the appointment. If a passenger cancels a trip less than one hour before the scheduled pick- <br />up time, it will be considered a Late Cancellation and treated the same as a No Show. All Late <br />Cancellations are recorded in the Passenger Individual Ridership Percentage record, which is <br />maintained in the Dispatch office. <br />Passengers should call the Orange County Public Transit Dispatch office at (919) 245-2008 as soon <br />as known to cancel any trips. <br />49