h_tra_2016a_2016-02-24t13:35:00z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/24/2016

01:42 PM -- RTD Presentation on Access-a-Ride



Tina McDonald, representing the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC), came to the table to explain issues that individuals with disabilities are experiencing with the Regional Transportation District's (RTD) paratransit services. She distributed a handout of information to the committee (Attachment A). She discussed the various ways RTD is failing to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), performance and on-time pickup problems experienced with RTD's services, how RTD's Access-a-Cab service drivers have not been picking up some clients, long wait times for users of the service, and other issues. Ms. McDonald stated that she did not feel that RTD is working fully with members of the CCDC. Ms. McDonald responded to questions from the committee.



160224 AttachA.pdf



01:51 PM



Douglas Howie, representing the CCDC, came to the table to discuss RTD compliance with the ADA and the ways in which the organization could improve its services and reduce transit issues experienced by people with disabilities. He spoke to RTD plans to acquire additional paratransit shuttles in the coming year.



01:58 PM



David Genova, Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Abel, Assistant General Manager, and Larry Buter, Manager of Paratransit Services, RTD, came to the table to provide their presentation on the organization's ADA paratransit services (Attachment B). Mr. Abel discussed transportation-related elements of the ADA that apply to RTD's provision of transit services for individuals with disabilities, eligibility criteria for users of Access-a-Ride, RTD's Access-a-Cab service, RTD's paratransit service statistics, customer complaints and comments, performance of RTD's paratransit services, and scheduling challenges it experiences.



160224 AttachB.pdf



02:14 PM



Mr. Abel discussed RTD's plans to improve its provision of paratransit services for individuals with disabilities. Mr. Abel responded to questions from the committee, and discussed RTD's paratransit advisory council and goals of working more closely with members of the CCDC to improve its paratransit services. Committee discussion ensued.