Paratransit challenges the conventional approach to public transport in the United States, which depends on fixed-route, fixed-schedule, publicly owned or regulated systems such as buses and trains. Paratransit is a type of service which relies on small vehicles which are frequently privately owned and operated, and which may not work on a schedule. The various options concerning service types, market niches, and effectiveness are discussed, along with the future of paratransit. Case studies describe paratransit systems in the U.S. and other places, and the interaction of paratransit with more traditional systems.
Offers information from selected transit agencies about the operational practices used to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services and identifies factors perceived by transit personnel to have influenced the selection of service delivery methodology. It focuses on the state of the practice in paratransit contracting and service delivery methods to comply with ADA paratransit provisions.
The future of disability in America will depend on how well the U.S. prepares for and manages the demographic, fiscal, and technological developments that will unfold during the next two to three decades. Building upon two prior studies from the Institute of Medicine (the 1991 Institute of Medicine's report Disability in America and the 1997 report Enabling America), The Future of Disability in America examines both progress and concerns about continuing barriers that limit the independence, productivity, and participation in community life of people with disabilities. This book offers a comprehensive look at a wide range of issues, including the prevalence of disability across the lifespan; disability trends the role of assistive technology; barriers posed by health care and other facilities with inaccessible buildings, equipment, and information formats; the needs of young people moving from pediatric to adult health care and of adults experiencing premature aging and secondary health problems; selected issues in health care financing (e.g., risk adjusting payments to health plans, coverage of assistive technology); and the organizing and financing of disability-related research. The Future of Disability in America is an assessment of both principles and scientific evidence for disability policies and services. This book's recommendations propose steps to eliminate barriers and strengthen the evidence base for future public and private actions to reduce the impact of disability on individuals, families, and society.
This report examines the performance and condition of mass transportation in the United States in relationship to the changing market for urban and suburban transportation. The report discusses the urban transportation issues identified in the National Transportation Policy issued by the President on March 8, 1990.
Describes the complexities involved in creating an accurate eligibility determination process that complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and is regionally and politically feasible to implement. This study documents the range of outcomes produced by the different eligibility certification models and offers information about their overall effectiveness.
This handbook provides guidance and practical information for implementing the complementary paratransit service requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). A primary purpose of this handbook is to assist transit operators and planners with the preparation of required ADA paratransit plans. The first five chapters summarize the law and complementary paratransit service requirements. Eligibility determination, service criteria, and operating standards and requirements are analyzed in detail. The last four chapters discuss paratransit service models; ways to enhance fixed route service in order to reduce the need for paratransit; the preparation of paratransit plans, including a step-by-step planning methodology; and, key implementation issues such as scheduling, training, equipment, specifications, and recordkeeping.
