Taxicabs in Paratransit

1
Taxicabs in Paratransit

• Rob Andresen, Project Manager
• First Transit, Inc.

2
Phoenix, Arizona

• Use of vouchers for dialysis transportation
• Developed project with Community Forum
• Identified funding through Kidney Foundation
• Expanded vouchers throughout state
• Planning begun 1995
• Project initiated in 1999
• Currently transporting 285 clients/month

3
Las Vegas, Nevada

• First project move overnight service to
  taxicabs
  
• Worked with local cab company to move service to
  cabs
  
• 1100 pm to 400 am
• Charged only for trips performed/fare rate
• Saved 1000 per day in cost

4
Las Vegas, Nevada

• Second Project - Expand service through
  supplemental taxicab service
  
• Developed customer education program
• Vehicle identification cards
• Included local non-profit provider
• Paid fare or average trip cost over past three
  months (for non-farebox vehicles)

5
Las Vegas, Nevada

• Taxi Limousine Commission (TLC) of Las Vegas
  controls taxicabs
  
• Advanced policies include requirement for drug
  testing like FTA
  
• Wheelchair accessible fleet required for
  licensing
  
• Approximately 150 trips/day transferred in 1999

6
Denver, Colorado

• access-a-Cab
• Subsidized taxicab program
• Customer pays 2 flag drop, RTD pays 12,
  anything over 14 is customer responsibility
  
• Increased in January 2008 from 7 subsidy
• Customer orders trip through paratransit
  operations center
  
• Request emailed to taxi provider

7
Denver, Colorado

• Provides reconciliation for billing
• Ensures orders from eligible clients only
• No service area/time restrictions
• Only same day service
• Consideration given to subscription in future
• Limited wheelchair accessibility
• Currently 3 (of 5) companies participate

8
Considerations

• Drug Alcohol issues
• Training
• Simplified reporting/billing
• Reconciliation concerns
• Payment speed
• Partnership approach

9
Thanks for your time!

• Questions?