TRANSPO’s
Paratransit service for South Bend & Mishawaka
ACCESS SERVICE
ACCESS is a public transportation service that complements
TRANSPO’s regular fixed route bus service. ACCESS
provides paratransit service to individuals who are deemed ADA-paratransit
eligible. This means those persons who, by reason of disability,
cannot access and/or utilize the regular fixed route
service provided by TRANSPO.
ACCESS service complements and is defined
by TRANSPO’s
regular fixed route system. No pick ups or drop offs may
be made outside of this defined service area. This service
is restricted to pick up and drop off locations within a
3/4 mile radius of regular bus routes.
Persons interested in ACCESS service must
first complete an application for eligibility and, if deemed
eligible, will be issued an identification card entitling them
to service. Registration
for service may take up to 21 days for approval, after receipt
of completed application and medical certification, and is
renewable every two years.
ACCESS service is provided with special
lift-equipped vans on a “curb to curb” shared ride basis. ACCESS
drivers are not permitted to enter places of residence. The
drivers also provide only limited physical assistance in boarding
and de-boarding, unlike medical or ambulance-type services in
which additional assistance may be provided to the passenger.
Scheduling is done in the most effective manner possible so
that more than one person may ride at any given time.
ACCESS SERVICE HOURS
ACCESS service is available from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on
weekdays, and from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additional service
is provided ONLY in the Sweep and Route #7 service area until
2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Please refer
to Sweep and Route #7 maps for more information on that
service area.
ACCESS FARES
The ACCESS fare is double the regular fixed
route fare for a one-way trip. Currently fixed route far is $1.00 for
a one way trip, so ACCESS fare is $2.00 per one way trip. Please
note that for pick ups and drop offs that originate and end
within the Downtown Trolley service area, the fare is $0.50,
as fixed route fare for the Downtown Trolley is $0.25.
Fares may be paid with cash, or punch
cards purchased from TRANSPO’s main office. ACCESS drivers do not carry
change, so exact fare is required when paying in cash. You
can purchase a punch card for 2 rides or 10 rides.
A registered personal care attendant (PCA)
may accompany an ACCESS passenger at no charge. Guests may accompany the
passenger, depending on space available, if requested and approved
at the time of trip scheduling. Each guest will be charged
the regular ACCESS fare.
ACCESS passengers must pay for each trip
as it is taken. ACCESS
is unable to allow trips to be charged or to accept payment
in advance for round trips.
SCHEDULING ACCESS TRIPS
Call 234-1188 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday to make trip requests with the
Access Coordinator. An answering service is available to make
trip requests in the evening, on Sundays & holidays. Trip
requests are not taken on Saturdays. Trip requests may
be made a maximum of 14 days in advance but a minimum
of 24 hours in advance is required.
Same-day service requests, or changes
to an existing reservation, may be accommodated based on availability. Please
keep in mind that trip lengths vary, and it could take up
to an hour to reach your destination.
In addition, when you made a reservation,
ACCESS may arrive for your pick up within a window of 30 minutes
before to 30 minutes after the scheduled time. You are
responsible for being prepared for your trip within this window
of time.
Trips are scheduled one-way only. A second request is
required to schedule a return trip. The ACCESS representative
will confirm your trip status at the time of your request, or
will telephone you back with this information. You may
request up to two trips per call.
CANCELLING ACCESS TRIPS
If you need to cancel a trip, please notify ACCESS before
5:00 p.m. the day prior to a scheduled trip if practical,
and in all cases at least 60 minutes notice. Any cancellation
less than 60 minutes in advance will be considered a “no-show.” Not
being at your stated point of origin, within your scheduled
pick-up window will also be considered a no-show.
ACCESS NO-SHOW POLICY
Not being at your stated point of origin, at your scheduled
pick-up window will also be considered a no-show. Persons
having 3 or more no-shows in any given month are ineligible
for service for a period of 30 days.
Due to the nature of this service, ACCESS
faces tight scheduling restrictions; please be ready to board
at your scheduled time.
ACCESS drivers are unable to wait more
than 5 minutes at any stop. Failure to appear within the 5 minute waiting period
constitutes a no-show. Should you miss a scheduled pick-up,
either at your point of origin, or at the destination to
begin a return trip, ACCESS cannot guarantee that another trip
can be provided.
TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR ACCESS SERVICE...
If you require the assistance of a personal care attendant,
this must be indicated on your application for service, and
you must inform the ACCESS representative when you call to request
your trip.
Please notify ACCESS of any changes in the status of your disability,
or in its affect upon your ability to utilize fixed route service,
for a redetermination of your eligibility.
ACCESS drivers provide limited assistance
only, such as in the guiding of a mobility device on or off
the vehicle. Passengers
are responsible for maintaining safe access from their point
of origin and to their destination.
ACCESS cannot provide service to areas
that are snow covered, icy, or otherwise inaccessible. In
such cases, a trip may have to be cancelled.
ACCESS may refuse or suspend service to any individual who
exhibits disregard for his/her safety, or that of other passengers,
or who interferes in the safe operation of any ACCESS vehicle.
ACCESS passengers are not permitted to
carry on more personal items than what can be accommodated with
one trip onto the vehicle, and personal items may not extend
beyond the passenger’s
reserved seating area.
For after-hour emergencies, call (574)
532-6923. The
emergency number cannot be used to make or change a reservation.
TRANSPO’s Handi-card is not accepted on ACCESS. Passengers
must possess an ACCESS ID Card to qualify for service.
Download
Access Application Form
Download HandiCard
Application Form
To request service or information, call 234-1188
or send inquiries to
ACCESS
P.O. Box 1437
South Bend, IN 46624
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