Metro News Release
For immediate release: April 9, 2009
Metro officials consider ways to manage rising MetroAccess ridership, costs
APTA peer review finds service exceeds ADA requirements
Metro officials are looking at ways to manage the increasing ridership and cost of MetroAccess, the service for people whose disabilities prevent them from using Metrobus or Metrorail.
Ridership has been increasing at a much faster rate than originally projected when Metro’s Board of Directors approved the current paratransit contract in September 2005. MetroAccess ridership has risen between 16 to 20 percent each year in the last three years.
Because of the substantial increase in ridership, costs associated with the paratransit contract also have risen at a faster rate than previously anticipated. Metro’s Board finance committee today gave preliminary approval to increase Metro’s paratransit contracting authority by $6.5 million for the current fiscal year. The full Board is expected to vote on the increase at its April 23 Board meeting.
“The huge increase in paratransit ridership is part of a national trend of a growing population of people with disabilities and older adults,” said Christian T. Kent, Metro’s Assistant General Manager of Access Services. “MetroAccess is a federally mandated service, but Metro does not receive federal funds to operate it. We face a huge challenge to deliver the service as efficiently as possible while accommodating more and more riders.”
A recent review conducted by the American Public Transportation Association found that Metro is delivering quality MetroAccess service that exceeds baseline requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Paratransit experts from New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago participated in the review and supported limiting MetroAccess service to three-quarters of a mile from existing Metrobus or Metrorail service, moving eligibility determinations in-house and implementing conditional eligibility.
Limiting service to the three-quarter-mile corridor could save Metro $2.8 million per year. Currently, MetroAccess riders can travel anywhere within the cities and counties that are part of the Metro service area. In addition to the $2.50 base fare, they must pay an extra $1 for every three miles they travel outside the corridor, up to a maximum of $6.50 for 12 miles or more outside the corridor.
The panel also supported reviewing MetroAccess fare policy. MetroAccess riders pay a base fare of $2.50 per trip, but the actual cost to Metro is $38 per trip. By law, Metro is permitted to charge up to double the corresponding fixed-route fare, which can include rail fares.
Metro is already taking steps to manage the increase in MetroAccess ridership. A new Transit Accessibility Center will open this spring at Metro Headquarters and will include a centralized eligibility process that will be faster and more customer friendly. Metro also is promoting its fully accessible Metrobus and Metrorail systems as an alternative to MetroAccess and is applying for federal grants to support expanded travel training.
“Some people with disabilities who are initially reluctant to take Metrobus or Metrorail find that it is very convenient for them once they take a tour and learn how to navigate the system,” said Kent. “Our goal is to help more customers take advantage of one of the most accessible transit systems in the world.”
In addition, Metro is working with local jurisdictions to identify and fix inaccessible pathways that make it difficult for a person with a disability to get to an accessible bus stop.
###
Media contact for this news release: Angela Gates or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
News release issued at 12:19 pm, April 9, 2009.