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Orange County Transportation Services ADA Paratransit Plan <br /> <br />Orange County Planning Department Page 18 <br /> <br /> For those requesting a hearing in person before the director of Transportation Services, the <br />Transit Operations Manager or Supervisor will schedule a hearing within 10 days following receipt <br />of the appeal to the director of Transportation Director. <br /> The hearing shall be conducted as follows: a) presentation of documents and testimony <br />supporting the exclusion, and b) presentation of documents and testimony opposing the <br />exclusion. The Transportation Services Director or designee may question those providing <br />testimony and may record the proceedings. <br /> The decision of the director of Transportation Services are in writing and shall be final. <br /> VII. Notice <br /> <br />OCTS will mail a copy of the entire appeal policy to persons issued exclusion letters who provide a mailing <br />address. A copy of this policy is also available for review at OCTS Administration Building, 600 NC-86, <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278. <br />2. Visitors to the Transit System: <br />ADA transportation service is provided to eligible visitors. Visitors are presumed eligible for service after <br />providing documentation of their ADA paratransit eligibility in the jurisdiction within which they reside. <br />If a visitor is unable to provide this documentation, documentation of the applicant’s place of residence <br />is required as well as documentation of his/her disability if the disability is not readily apparent. These <br />persons are additionally required to sign a certification that they are unable to use fixed-route transit. <br /> <br />ADA paratransit is provided to eligible visitors for no more than 21 days during a rolling 365-day period. <br />After 21 days of service within this timeframe, applicants/registrants are required to complete OPT’s full <br />eligibility process, which involves completing an application and providing professional documentation <br />of ADA transportation eligibility. <br />3. Personal Care Attendant/Caregiver/Companion Policy <br />An ADA-eligible person may have one Personal Care Attendant (PCA), caregiver or companion to <br />accompany the riders on eligible trips at no charge. OCTS requires that applicants state the need for a <br />PCA during the eligibility application process. A PCA/Caregiver is not considered to be a companion or <br />guest. The need for a PCA must be noted during the application process. PCAs are not charged a fare for <br />accompanying an eligible registrant. In addition to a PCA, registrants may have one traveling companion <br />accompany them who pay the price paid by the ADA registrant. Additional traveling companions are <br />allowed on a space-available basis only and are subject to the ADA fare. Traveling companions and PCAs <br />must have the same origin and destination as the customer. <br /> <br />One companion/guest is allowed to accompany an ADA eligible complementary paratransit passenger <br />on an ADA eligible paratransit trip. More than one companion are allowed on a space available basis. <br />Companions/guests are required to pay the applicable paratransit fare. <br />4. Door to Door Assistance Policy <br />It is the policy of Orange County Public Transit to provide complementary paratransit services within the <br />¾ mile service area boundary of OCTS’ non-commuter bus routes. Transportation service is provided by <br />ADA accessible buses or vans. <br />28