RTD’s Access-a-Ride Program Assessment & Eligibility

CalACT 2011 Conference & EXPO

September 20, 2011

Larry Buter, Manager, Paratransit Services

Regional Transportation District (RTD)

Denver, Colorado

RTD

RTD

Scope Single Regional Service Provider

Eight (8) Counties / 40 Municipalities

2.8 million people

2300 + square miles

1025 fixed route buses

153 LRT vehicles

324 access-a-Ride vehicles

19 general public paratransit (call-n-Ride)

139 Van Pools

322,000 avg. weekday boardings on fixed route

$373.1Million – 2010 Operating Budget

RTD

Access-a-Ride

Scope

324 vehicles

2300 + square miles

558,000 annual revenue hours (2010)

9 million miles per year (2010)

713,000 pax trips (2900 / weekday)

$32 million annual budget (44.63/pax trip) (2010)

Over 450 drivers, mechanics and staff

70,000+ certified customers (15,000 active)

RTD

Access-a-Ride

RTD’s complementary paratransit program

Initiated in 1994

Managed by RTD

Contracted to service providers and eligibility contractor

RTD

Methodology

Face-to-Face Interview

Indoor Functional Assessment

Outdoor Assessment

Face-to-Face Interview Indoor

No assessment tools utilized

Interview style

10 - 30 minutes

Indoor Functional Assessment

“Simulated” Real World Environment

Assessment Tools

Tinetti Gate and Balance

Functional Assessment Cognitive Transit

Skills (FACTS)

Mini Mental Stats Exam

Outdoor Assessment

Outdoor Assessments –Cont.

Bus Ride

Walking Over Various Surfaces

Crossing Streets

Recalling Landmarks

Assessments New Recert Total Unrest. Condit. Temp. Denied

2005 2637 1148 3785 3332 136 254 53

2006 2854 806 3660 3173 185 222 80

2007 2799 1280 4079 3448 268 272 91

2008 2588 1514 4102 3495 255 257 95

2009 2259 1560 3819 3339 215 198 67

2010 2564 1532 4096 3498 317 186 95

2011 1581 752 2333 1991 139 145 58

(Jan – Jul)

“Let there be conditions”

Unrestricted – up to 4 years

Temporary – 6 months and up

Conditional: 1. Temperature Sensitive

2. Dawn to Dusk

3. Dusk to Dawn

4. Snow

5. Rain

6. Fatigue

“The future…started yesterday”

Travel Training – “part of eligibility process.”

Deviated Fixed Route – “part of eligibility

process.”

“Home to Bus Stop Service”

ADA Service Buy-In.

a. Public Stakeholder Committee

b. Agency Stakeholder Committee

c. Rider Committee

“Thinking Outside the Bus”