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Access Express Services City Utilities operates a Paratransit Service to serve the disabled who are unable to ride a regular route bus. Our specially designed vehicles equipped with lifts are used to transport passengers to their destination within the designated service area. This service is operated on a demand-responsive, curb-to-curb basis. Reservations may be made next-day up to seven days in advance. Service Hours The Paratransit Service (Access Express) is available during the same operating hours as our regular route service. The service operates Monday through Saturday between the hours of 6 am and 11 pm, and on Sunday from 7 am to 11 pm, with the exception of the six major holidays. Service hours on holidays are from 8 am until 6 pm. Curb-To-Curb All service provided is "curb-to-curb." It is the responsibility of the rider to make proper arrangements for assistance beyond these points. Rider Elibility Service eligibility is dependent upon the individual's inability to use the regular fixed route buses. All riders must complete an application for certification for paratransit eligibility. Some individuals may be eligible for Access Express on a conditional basis and will ride both fixed route and Access Express on a trip-by-trip basis. Each application is reviewed by an advisory committee for eligibility determination. Approval of the application and notification to the applicant by mail takes approximately 21 days. Registration Card Upon determination of eligibility, each applicant shall be issued a certification card with his or her name and identification number. This card is proof that the holder is a certified Access Express rider. Reservations 831-8782 Reservations are made on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be made by Transit Services office personnel. Bus operators are not allowed to take or cancel reservations. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and may be made up to seven days in advance. When making a reservation, please give the following information to the dispatcher:
If the bus has not arrived within ten minutes after the scheduled time, call the Transit Services office to verify the reservation. You are required to be available for pick-up 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after your scheduled appointment. The drivers have a 20-minute window of time to arrive at their destinations. The driver is not allowed to wait longer than three minutes after their arrival time. If the rider fails to appear, the driver will be instructed to proceed to the next pick-up point. There will be a $10 no-show fee charged to the rider. Fare The fare for this service is $2.00 per one-way rider. Discounted bus passes are available as follows: 30 Rides - $46.00 60 Rides - $80.00 Personal Care Attendant (PCA) and/or Companion Persons who cannot travel independently must be accompanied by a personal care attendant. The attendant, if required, will not be charged for the ride. If space is available, a companion may ride with you at a price of $2.00 per ride. Service Area Reservations may be made within a defined service area of Springfield, including an area within 3/4 of a mile from any regular City Utilities bus route. City Utilities is currently providing service within the city limits of Springfield. Medicaid Recipients For our Medicaid riders who are eligible for transportation services, we provide rides for "non-emergency medical trips" free of charge. If you are eligible for Medicaid transportation benefits, please tell the dispatcher when making your ride reservation on Access Express. No-Shows & Cancellations Cancellations should be made 24 hours before the scheduled pick-up time to allow others the opportunity to schedule. Cancellations made less than one hour before the scheduled pick-up are considered a "no-show." All "no-shows" will be billed $10 for the missed trip. Payment must be received before the individual will be allowed to ride again. It is your responsibility to cancel your trips. If we do not hear from you within an hour of your "no-show," any ride scheduled later that day will be cancelled. A pattern of late cancellations and/or "no-shows" could result in suspension of service on Access Express. Appeal Process If Paratransit service has been denied or suspended, you may choose to appeal the decision. The following information is available to learn more about the appeals process:
Phone Numbers Reservations: (417) 831-8782 Fax: (417) 831-8803 Bus schedules are available in Braille, large print, and audio cassette format in addition to the printed schedules. Contact Transit Services at 831-8782 for more information. |
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