BACKGROUND

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires fixed-route public transportation services (e.g., buses and trains) be accessible to individuals with disabilities and complementary paratransit services be provided to individuals with disabilities who cannot use the fixed-route services for some or all of their trips.  Since the passage of the ADA in 1990, public transit agencies have provided paratransit services to meet and in some cases exceed federal requirements. The ADA stipulates minimum requirements for complementary paratransit services. (See Americans with Disabilities Act 1990.)

ADA paratransit services cost more per passenger trip than fixed-route services and demand continues to grow in many communities. These paratransit services, which are provided directly by public transit agencies, through third-party contracting, and other arrangements, typically require prior-day advance booking and shared rides which can lead to limited flexibility for riders.

While current complementary paratransit services play a vital role in providing transportation for individuals with disabilities, they often lack convenience for riders and cost-effectiveness for transit agencies. Stakeholders have expressed interest in alternative services, including same-day services. Allowing ADA paratransit eligible riders to utilize same-day services could enhance their mobility and potentially reduce transit agency costs.

Research is needed to identify proven and potential strategies for same day services and how each can be effectively implemented. The research should address potential impacts on costs, ridership, customer satisfaction, administration, financing, technology, regulation, and other challenges.   

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to prepare a guide for public transit agencies and other service providers, that presents operational, administrative, technological, and financial strategies for implementing same-day services that meet the mobility needs of ADA paratransit eligible people. At a minimum, the research should address:

• The types of same day transportation services suitable for ADA paratransit eligible customers. (Note: This research should focus on same day services that will meet some or all of the mobility needs of ADA eligible passengers; the services may be available to the general public.)   
• The cost implications for public transit agencies and other service providers to provide these same-day services.
• Passenger fare and demand management options for different types of same-day services.
• Methods or factors for estimating demand for same-day services.
• Technologies that may be required to implement and operate same day services.
• Administrative, regulatory, and legal considerations associated with offering same-day services. This research project should build on available literature on same-day services for ADA paratransit eligible customers, in particular paratransit services.
• The challenges to implement, operate, and administer same-day services and potential strategies to address them.
• Recommended areas for future research related to this topic.

RESEARCH PLAN

The research plan will describe appropriate deliverables that include the following (which also represent key project milestones):  

• An amplified research plan that responds to comments provided by the project panel at the subawardee selection meeting.
• An interim report and panel meeting. The interim report should include the analyses and results of completed tasks, a plan for the remaining tasks, and a detailed outline of the final research product(s). The panel meeting will be virtual (e.g., Zoom) and will take place after the panel review of the interim report. The interim report should be submitted and panel meeting should occur after the expenditure of about 40 to 50 percent of the project budget.
• Final deliverables. The final deliverables should fully address this research project’s objectives.
• A technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” (see Special Note J).
• A slide deck that presents the research findings and conclusions that may be used in webinars. 

Status

The panel has selected a research team and the contract is pending.