Valley Metro’s board of directors have approved a plan that will make significant improvements to Dial-A-Ride services in the Valley.
Dial-A-Ride, otherwise known as “paratransit,” is an important service for people with disabilities under the Americans With Disabilities Act. It also provides non-ADA services to seniors. The approved recommendations could soon make life easier for some Valley residents.
One recommendation in The Regional Paratransit Plan had to do with the elimination of Dial-A-Ride transfers.
Ann Glaser with Valley Metro said, "So that means if someone is transferring between different cities, they do not have to make transfers. They can go from one stop to the other" without getting off the vehicle.
Besides offering riders a more convenient commute, even opening up employment and high education opportunities in other cities, safety was also a driving force behind this recommendation.
"For someone who has compromised heath, being left at some place waiting for another transfer is pretty intimidating," explained David Carey with Ability 360, a disability advocacy group. He said other recommendations revolve around consistency. "Because often times, each city had different policies and procedures in place."
So a city like Mesa, for example, could have a totally different cancellation, no-show or booking policy than, say, Phoenix or Tempe. The approved recommendations are slated to go into effect this July.
