VTA Paratransit Appeals Process: VTA Accessible Bus and Light Rail Services: If your eligibility for paratransit service is VTA Paratransit One of VTA’s top priorities is to provide and tactile signage denied, you will receive written notification, mobility and access for all of our customers. keep passengers which will include instructions for appealing the Service All buses are equipped with lifts or ramps to informed through- decision. If you disagree with the denial, you make boarding easier for persons who use out VTA’s bus and may use the appeals process. You may also Apply for VTA Paratransit in mobility devices or for anyone who needs help light rail system. appeal if you receive conditional eligibility. Just Two Simple Steps! negotiating steps. Bus operators are always VTA accommo- As part of the appeals process, you may available to assist boarding passengers. Light dates passengers rail stations offer level boarding; there are no with disabilities be asked to participate in a functional steps required to get on board. using bus and light assessment. The purpose of a functional January 2017 rail services by assessment is to determine if applicants have VTA buses and light making reasonable modifications to operat- the physical and cognitive abilities to use bus rail vehicles have ing policies, practices and procedures upon and light rail service and, if so, under what priority seating request in accordance with the United States conditions. available near the Department of Transportation’s Final Rule to 49 front as an added The functional assessments are conducted CFR Parts 27 and 37. convenience for in partnership with qualified professionals individuals who If you are interested in learning more about from local community agencies familiar with need it. Operator VTA or to request a reasonable accommoda- your type of disability/health conditions. The and automatic tion, please contact VTA Customer Service at independent professional may come to your announcements, 1 (408) 321-2300; or TTY at 1 (408) 321-2330; residence or preferred location to conduct a large print visual or visit our website at vta.org/reasonablemod. functional assessment. Application display boards All eligibility decisions made during the appeals Enclosed process will be final. However, if your condition changes (in the future) and you believe that VTA Paratransit Service: you may become eligible for ADA paratransit VTA ACCESS Paratransit is a shared-ride, service, we urge you to reapply. public transportation service for persons with disabilities. VTA offers paratransit service to Paratransit Fares: persons whose disabilities prevent their The fare for a regular one-way paratransit trip independent access to, or use of, VTA’s bus is established at twice the one-way adult cash and light rail system as specified by the fare of VTA’s bus and light rail services. Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit eligi- bility requirements (Appendix 49 CFR 37.123). Contact Us: All VTA ACCESS Paratransit vehicles are For more information about VTA ACCESS ADA accessible and assignment to a particular Paratransit Eligibility Certification and Appeals vehicle is at VTA ACCESS Paratransit’s Program please call 1 (408) 321-2381 or at discretion. TTY at 1 (408) 321-2330. Paratransit Eligibility: VTA ACCESS Just follow these TWO EASY STEPS to apply for VTA Paratransit service! Paratransit will work The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with applicants and Submit an application form and authorization Participate in a phone interview: establishes the criteria for paratransit eligibility. eligible customers to 1 to contact your physician or licensed 2 VTA ACCESS Paratransit will call Specifically, eligibility is based upon your accommodate their professional: mail or drop off the signed you to review your application functional inability to use the bus or light rail individual needs and completed one-page application. VTA and conduct a phone interview to system, some or all of the time. Eligibility is during the eligibility ACCESS Paratransit will then contact you, help determine your paratransit not based on your age, economic condition, process and when or your representative, to set a date and time eligibility. or inability to drive an automobile. Please note using paratransit for a phone interview. that having a medical condition or a disability services by making reasonable modifications does not automatically qualify you for ADA to operating policies, practices and procedures Second Level Assessment paratransit eligibility. upon request in accordance with the United About the Interview • The phone interview takes • If your eligibility for ADA paratransit has not States Department of Transportation’s Final VTA partners with contractors to conduct an approximately been sufficiently established, we may need Rule to 49 CFR Parts 27 and 37. Call VTA application process to determine eligibility 15 minutes. to call you for a second phone interview or ACCESS Paratransit at 1 (408) 321-2300 or based on ADA paratransit eligibility standards arrange to meet with you so you can clarify TTY at 1 (408) 321-2330, if you have any • During the (Appendix 49 CFR37.123) summarized below: your need for paratransit. questions or need to request a reasonable phone inter CATEGORY 1 - Any person with a disability modification. view, you will • Within 21 days of the second interview, you who is unable to board, ride, or disembark be asked will be notified of an eligibility decision. from an accessible vehicle without the questions about Accessible Formats Available: • If your completed application takes longer assistance of another person (except for the the functional Paratransit application and service information than 21 days to process, you shall be granted operator of a lift or other boarding device). abilities and is available in accessible formats, including presumptive eligibility until you have been limitations that may keep you from CATEGORY 2 - Any person with a disability large print, Braille, audio, and plain file text. informed of your eligibility decision and independently using bus and/or light who needs the assistance of a lift ramp to Call VTA ACCESS Paratransit at 1 (408) 321- may schedule and use the service on the rail services for some or all of your trips. board, ride or disembark from an accessible 2300 or TTY at 1 (408) 321-2330 to request this 22nd day. vehicle and an accommodating vehicle is not information in accessible formats. This will assist in determining whether available or key stations have not been made or not you are eligible for paratransit services. Paratransit ID Cards accessible. Si a usted le gustaría recibir la versión en español de este • If your application is approved, you will folleto, llame al Servicio al Cliente de VTA (VTA Customer • VTA ACCESS Paratransit will follow up receive a start-up kit in the mail which CATEGORY 3 - Any person with a disability Service) al (408) 321-2300, o TTY al (408) 321-2330. who has a specific impairment-related with your physician or appropriate third includes instructions on how to use the condition that prevents the person from party professional to validate disabilities paratransit service. and functional limitations. traveling to or from a boarding and disembark- • You will also receive a paratransit ID card as (TTY) ing location. • Within 21 days following the phone proof of eligibility. interview and verification of disability, you will receive a decision regarding • If you are able to take some of your trips on bus or light rail, we will arrange to take your TTY (408) 321-2330 your VTA ACCESS Paratransit eligibility by mail. photo for your paratransit ID card, as this will allow you to ride free on VTA bus and light rail service. 1612-1000