Understanding Public Transportation A Workshop To Help You Make The Most Of Public Transportation 1
The types of public transportation available and how public transportation is funded The accessibility of public transportation The difference between regular bus service and ADA paratransit service The Getting On Board Guide The various ways you can plan a trip on the bus The cost of using public transportation Connecticut Commuter Services Travel Training, which helps people access regular bus service 2
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Other means available Lack of knowledge No service in the area Fear Don t feel capable 4
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) Fares 5
Any transportation service that is open to the general public and publicly funded.
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Fixed route runs on designated routes at fixed times Fixed route service requires no advance reservation Free transfers for trips requiring more than one bus 9
Most buses have only one step into the bus All buses have kneeling feature All buses can accommodate mobility devices
Front seats are reserved for seniors and people with disabilities Drivers call out the location of the bus at designated times, as they appear on the schedule, or at the customer s request Service animals allowed on all vehicles
Defensive driving Operating the lift/ramp Securing wheelchairs Understanding the needs and capabilities of people with disabilities Emergency procedures Customer service 12
Transportation service for people who, because of a disability, cannot use the fixed route service for a trip they want to take 13
Runs the same days and hours as the fixed route service Is provided in a ¾ mile radius around a regular bus route Rides must be arranged at least one day before you want to use the service There is an eligibility process Cost: twice the regular adult fare of the fixed route system 14
Accessible Taxis Demand taxi service will fill current gaps for individuals with disabilities who desire to travel when & where public transit is unavailable or who desire same day service 15
Individuals will be able purchase vouchers at 50 % of the value to be used toward a taxi ride Supported by Federal New Freedom Funding Is a partnership with Yellow Cab To qualify, an individual has to be determined eligible for ADA paratransit Vehicles have side entrance ramps Operates 24 hours in the Hartford region 16
Connecticut DOT Commuter Services Easy Street NuRide Telecommute Connecticut Commuter Tax Benefit Program 1-800-972-EASY http://www.ctrides.com 17
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Read/print schedules Maps for each route available Fare information Contact information http://www.cttransit.com 21
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Paratransit $2.50 One Way Fixed Route $1.25 One Way Fixed Route Senior/Disabled $.60 One Way 24
Paratransit Fixed Route 1/2 Fare Savings $1,300.00 $312.00 $988.00 25
$3.25 Cost of < 3 Rides $ 7.50 Cost of 6 Rides $11.25 Cost of 9 Rides $15.00 Cost of 12 Rides $45.00 Cost of 36 Rides 27
$ 11.25 10 Rides for the price of 9 $ 9.00 10 Rides for Price of 9 (Youth 5-18 pay cash of $1.00) $5.40 10 Rides for the Price of 9 @ ½ Rate of $.60 28
The Kennedy Center, Inc. Mobility ServiceS Changing lives one trip at a time.. 29
People with disabilities Senior citizens Recent immigrants Job seekers 30
What is it? Who is appropriate for this service? How much does travel training cost? Who does it? What about safety? 31
Referral First Steps Assessment Travel Training Referral Name: Address: Email: Telephone: Points of travel (destination): Contact Person: Referral Made By Relationship to Trainee Agency: Address: Email address: Agency Phone: 32
Travel Plan Pre Test Field Training 33
Post Test Independent Travel Follow-up 34
Cost Savings Independence Self-Advocacy Flexibility 35
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Consider public transportation up-front and assess as part of job placement Try to use fixed route systems already in place Consider travel training as a way to expand transportation options Understand that not all of the region or state is accessible via bus transit 37
Lisa Barney, The Kennedy Center (203) 365-8522 Ext. 270 lbarney@kennedyctr.org CTTRANSIT 860-525-9181 www.cttransit.com 38
Pat Williams Greater Hartford Transit District 860-247-5329 ext. 3011 Pwilliams@hartfordtransit.org Chris Tower, Easy Street 860-692-1234 www.easystreet.org 39
We hope you will consider using the public bus system 40