|
What is
the HOP's paratransit system?
Who is eligible to use the paratransit system?
What disabilities qualify in determining
eligibility?
How do I apply to use the Paratransit service?
When does the paratransit system run, where does it
go and how much does it cost?
Can I have a friend ride with me?
Who is considered a personal care attendant (PCA)?
Now that I am certified paratransit eligible how do
I reserve a trip?
I have reserved a trip to the grocery store and it will only take 10
minutes or less. Will you wait on me?
Or, you are taking me home and I need to run by the
bank to cash a check. Will you wait?
I have been certified eligible for paratransit
service in another area and am visiting your area for a few days.
Can I ride your system?
What is the HOP's paratransit system?
Access to mainline, fixed route transportation services is the main
goal of public transportation provided by the HOP. We recognize,
however, that some persons with disabilities are not able to use the
fully accessible fixed route services; therefore, we provide
paratransit services to eligible individuals which is comparable to
the fixed route service. Paratransit services are provided on a
door-to-door basis within the HOP service area.
TOP
Who is
eligible to use the paratransit system?
ADA paratransit eligibility for complementary paratransit service is
directly related to the inability of a person with a disability to
use the existing fully accessible fixed route system. Eligibility
includes those persons unable to use the fully accessible fixed
route services. Federal Law defines eligibility as follows:
"Any individual
with a disability who is unable, as a result of a physical or mental
impairment (including a vision impairment), and without the
assistance of another individual (except the operator of a
wheelchair lift or other boarding assistance device), to board,
ride, or disembark from any vehicle on the system which is readily
accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities." [49
CFR Part 37.123(e)(1)]
Individuals must be
determined eligible before they can access the paratransit system.
TOP
What
disabilities qualify in determining eligibility?
ADA paratransit eligibility is not just based on the presence of a
disability, but on the effect that the disability has on the
person's ability to use the fixed route service. Several factors
must be considered in determining ADA paratransit eligibility. These
include:
(a) the applicant's disability, which may require professional
verification;
(b) the accessibility
of the fixed route system;
(c) architectural
barriers that, in combination with the person's disability, prevent
use of the fixed route service; and
(d) environmental
conditions that, in combination with the person's disability,
prevent use of the fixed route service.
While documentation of
a particular disability or use of a mobility aid is still important,
this information alone cannot be used to make an eligibility
determination. Functional ability of the applicant to use fixed
route transit service must be included in the assessment process.
Our responsibility is to identity the relationship between a
person's disability and their travel capabilities given such factors
as: the accessibility of the fixed route system; the distance to and
from stops/stations; environmental factors such as snow, ice, heat,
cold; and natural and man-made architectural barriers such as steep
terrain, lack of curb-cuts, and busy roads and/or intersections.
TOP
How
do I apply to use the Paratransit service?
The HOP has a Paratransit Eligibility Certification Form that must
be filled out by each individual requesting service. Individuals may
request a form by calling the HOP offices at 616-6800 in Killeen or
778-3636 in Temple. One will be
mailed to you. The HOP has twenty-one (21) days after receipt of a
completed form in which to make an eligibility determination, and
rides may not be reserved until the individual is notified of
eligibility. ADA paratransit eligibility may include conditions and
limitations of eligibility. When an individual is certified
eligible, they are issued a pass that shows the driver they are
eligible to ride, and they will be informed about the necessary
procedures to follow to receive transportation.
TOP
When does the paratransit system run, where does
it go and how much does it cost?
When? The paratransit system operates the same hours as the
fixed route system - 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday through
Friday except holidays. in Killeen, and 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Saturdays in
Temple. Pick-ups cannot be before 6:00 a.m. and
drop-offs will be no later than 7:00 p.m. weekdays in Killeen, and
no later than 6:00 p.m. weekdays in Temple and no later than 5:00
p.m. Saturdays in Temple.
Where? In the
Killeen urbanized service area, the
paratransit system operates within the city limits of Nolanville,
Harker Heights, Killeen and Copperas Cove. Service is limited to
defined urbanized service areas, and the system may not be to
pick-up or drop-off paratransit eligible riders outside the city
limits of these cities. Within these boundaries, those individuals
who are eligible can request any and all trips for which they have
been determined eligible. There are no restrictions or priorities
imposed based on trip purpose and there are no restrictions based on
the number of trips an individual will be provided. In the Temple
urbanized service area, the paratransit system operates within the
city limits of Temple and most of Belton.
How much? The
paratransit service charges $2.00 per trip (one way) per individual
riding. A trip is considered as being one way from origination to
destination (not round trip). Paratransit service will also provide
for a personal care attendant (PCA) traveling with an eligible rider
if the eligible rider is approved to have a PCA. In addition to a
personal care attendant, the service allows one companion
accompanying the eligible rider. Other persons accompanying the
rider will be accommodated on a "space Available" basis.
Persons are considered to be accompanying the eligible rider if they
are picked up and dropped off at the same locations as the eligible
rider. Companions will be charged the same fare as the eligible
rider and PCAs ride free. When an eligible rider is reserving a
trip, he/she is required to reserve the space for the companion
and/or PCA otherwise space will not be available and the trip may be
denied.
TOP
Can
I have a friend ride with me?
Yes. Any one (1) individual is guaranteed space and may accompany
the eligible rider on the vehicle; i.e., family member, child,
neighbor, friend, business associate, date, etc. We do not limit
your choice of type of companion. You are required to reserve a
space for the companion when you reserve your own ride. Additional
individuals beyond the first companion are carried only on a space
available basis; that is, they do not displace other ADA paratransit
eligible individuals and cannot be guaranteed a ride with you. The
companion fare is $2.00 per one way trip.
TOP
Who is
considered a personal care attendant (PCA)?
A personal care attendant is someone designated or employed
specifically to help the eligible individual meet his or her
personal needs on a "regular" basis. You may still bring a
companion with you even if you have a PCA, but a companion does not
count as a personal care attendant. You are required, as part of the
initial eligibility certification process, to indicate whether you
travel with a personal care attendant. If someone does not indicate
the use of an attendant, then any individual accompanying him or her
will be regarded simply as a companion and the companion must pay
the $2.00 fare per trip.
TOP
Now
that I am certified paratransit eligible how do I reserve a trip?
In Killeen:
To make appointments,
call (254) 616-6800 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday-Friday. You
may also call (254) 616-6547 on Sundays and holidays between 8 a.m.
– 5 p.m. to request or cancel a trip via a recorded message.
Reservations can be made up to 14 days in advance and up through the
day before your appointment.
In
Temple:
To
make appointments, call (254) 778-3636 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday-Friday. You may also call (254) 778-3636 on Sundays and
holidays between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. to request or cancel a trip via a
recorded message. Reservations can be made up to 14 days in
advance and up through the day before your appointment.
When
scheduling a trip, please provide:
- Your
name
- Whether
a personal care attendant (PCA) will travel with you
- Whether
a guest will travel with you, including children and service
animals
- Your
pick-up address (building number, name and/or landmarks)
- The
date you wish to travel
- The
appointment address & appointment time
Trips are not provided on a one-on-one basis. Several individuals'
trips are scheduled on the same vehicle at the same time for
efficiency and, therefore, your desired departure time must be
flexible. Schedulers may negotiate pickup times with you to begin as
much as one hour before or after your desired departure time
depending on vehicle availability, so, know the time you need to
arrive at your destination and plan your trips in advance of
calling. At the same time you reserve a trip you should reserve a
return trip if one is required. We schedule all trips the day before
and cannot accommodate call-ins for immediate pick-up.
TOP
I
have reserved a trip to the grocery store and it will only take 10
minutes or less. Will you wait on me?
No. There are other individuals depending on our services and our
vehicles cannot wait for people. You must reserve a return trip and
a vehicle will be scheduled to provide your ride.
TOP
Or,
you are taking me home and I need to run by the bank to cash a
check. Will you wait?
Again, no. We will take you to the bank if you have reserved a trip
to the bank but the driver will not take you there without it being
scheduled in advance. Again, we will not wait. It is important that
you manage your trips and reserve space in advance.
TOP
I have been certified eligible for paratransit
service in another area and am visiting your area for a few days.
Can I ride your system?
Yes. All that is required is to present to us your "ADA
paratransit eligible" certification from your local transit
agency and we will provide any combination of 21 days service during
any 365-day period beginning with your first use of the service
during the 365-day period.
TOP
|
