Report to the community
Winter 2000
Access service area and hours could change
Access Transportation service areas and hours are now based on noncommuter fixed-route service (buses with regular routes and timetables) areas. This change took effect in September 1999.
For example, an area with regular bus service from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. five days a week will also be served by Access Transportation during those hours. An area with no regular bus service will not be served by Access Transportation.
Metro Transit revises its regular bus service three times a year. In 2000, service changes are scheduled to take place on Feb. 5, May 27 and Sept. 16. These revisions can result in bus routes being added, eliminated or changed from commuter-only service to regular bus service.
Because of the ongoing possibility of funding reductions for regular bus service, Metro Transit is working to design a smaller system that will still supply as much service as possible. Any changes to the transit system can affect Access Transportation.
Remember that all Metro’s regular transit buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. You may find that fixed-route Metro buses offer transportation that meets your needs.
Changes in registration to begin in 2000
Beginning soon, Metro will implement changes to address recommendations on registration and recertification of Access Transportation riders. These recommendations are the result of an extensive public outreach effort in 1996 to examine transportation for people with disabilities and senior citizens in King County. As part of this effort, the King County Executive convened a Special Transportation Task Force to develop recommendations based on the public outreach results.
Following the public process, the King County Council developed and approved an ordinance containing some changes to Metro Transit’s transportation services for people with disabilities and senior citizens. The County Executive approved that ordinance in spring 1999. An important principle in the ordinance is that Metro ensure people use the least costly, most appropriate level of service for their transportation needs.
Metro will contact all applicants and current riders. The ordinance establishes that paratransit service will be limited to those who need it. That means King County needs to make the best, most accurate decision possible for each applicant by interviewing every applicant, either by telephone or in an in-person evaluation. Once you apply, Accessible Services will contact you; you do not need to call.
Metro will arrange more in-person evaluations. Other transit providers around the country have found that in-person evaluations are the best way to assess the appropriate level of service for each applicant. In the next few months Metro will begin requesting more in-person evaluations of applicants’ physical or cognitive skills (or both). Not everyone will be asked to do so. King County will provide transportation to and from the evaluation site at no cost to the applicant.
Metro is streamlining registration for clearly eligible applicants. Public testimony supported the Special Transportation Task Force’s recommendation to implement a quicker registration process for people who are clearly eligible and have an immediate need for service. Metro is working with community and health organizations now to help determine how best to identify and process registrations of clearly eligible applicants.
Metro will recertify Access Transportation riders. The number of Access Transportation riders and trips is growing. Metro must ensure riders only use Access Transportation for trips they cannot take by regular bus service. In the next few months Metro will begin a three-year effort to contact riders now determined eligible for Access Transportation to recertify their conditions of eligibility.
Eligibility will not change. Eligibility requirements were established in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) legislation, and Metro cannot change them. People are eligible for Access Transportation if, because of a disability, all or some of the time they are unable to:
- independently board, ride or disembark from a lift-equipped bus
- use the lift at their bus stops
- travel to or from a bus stop.
Tools for riding the regular bus
Metro provides a variety of free tools to make it easier for senior citizens and people with disabilities to get around the region using regular bus service. Regular bus service can offer more flexibility for people with disabilities and provide service at a lower cost to both the rider and Metro.
- Bus identifier cards - Bus identifier cards let the driver know which route you are waiting for if you have difficulty seeing the route number and destination signs on the front of the bus.
- Special assistance cards - Special assistance cards let the driver know where you want to go. You may use this tool if you have visual or communication impairments. The driver will hold the card until the bus arrives at your stop. The driver will then give you the card back, signaling that you are at your destination. Drivers are required to call out transfer points, major intersections, landmarks and your stop if you ask when you get on the bus.
Metro buses offer accessible transportation in most of King County. It's cost-effective to take the bus if you have a Reduced Regional Fare Permit or a monthly Access Pass. Did you know Metro Transit can provide eight or nine regular bus trips for the same cost as one Access Transportation trip?
- Bus travel training - Group presentations are available. Metro provides custom one-on-one bus travel training for people with cognitive, physical or visual disabilities who travel to the same place three or more days a week. For more information, call 206-633-6628 (voice) or 206-632-3456 (TTY).
- Priority seating - The front seats just behind the driver and the door are reserved for persons with disabilities and senior citizens to ride the bus. These seats have handrails to help people with balance limitations. When you are boarding the bus, let the driver know if you need help finding a seat.
- TTY (or TDD) phone system - People with hearing impairments may use a specialized "teletype-writer system" called a TTY (or TDD) phone to communicate. Only individuals with TTY systems can call on a TTY line, as it does not transmit voice communications. The phone number for Accessible Services' TTY line is 206-263-3116. For bus route information using a TTY line, call 206-684-1739.
- 24-hour bus rider information is available at 206-553-3000.
Coping with winter weather
When snow is predicted, check the weather forecast on days you plan to ride Access Transportation. Riders should call their call centers or listen to local news to learn what level of Access Transportation service is available on days with snow conditions. All call centers’ phone systems will carry special announcements when service has been interrupted or suspended because of winter weather conditions.
When service must be suspended, Access Transportation vehicles may still be available for emergency services such as trips to critical medical appointments or to pick up prescriptions, groceries and food bank items. Access Transportation will make every effort to provide service to customers who notify their call center that their trips are essential. Please note, however, that Access Transportation will make the final decision about whether a trip can be provided safely.
For more information
King County Metro’s Accessible Services:
- Phone: 206-263-3113
- TTY: 206-263-3116
- E-mail: Access.CustomerService@kingcounty.gov
- Fax: 206-263-3101
- Mail: King County Metro
Accessible Services EXC-TR-1240
821 Second Ave., Suite 10
Seattle, WA 98104-1598
All Access Transportation printed materials (including this newsletter) are available in braille, or on audio tape cassette, in large print and on computer diskette. Call 206-263-3113 (voice) or 206-263-3116 (TTY).
Produced by Transportation Community Relations.
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