MetroAccess riders appear to have been subject to a mailshot over the past week, with postcards arriving to explain the new fares. This explanatory blurb was on the cards:
In the meantime, MetroAccess will be upgrading its trip scheduling system to prepare for the second phase to be implemented this fall, in which fares will be based on twice the cost of the equivalent trip taken on Metrobus or Metrorail with a $7 maximum. When this change is made, MetroAccess will no longer serve locations that are more than 3/4 mile from existing regional bus and rail services. Existing users of MetroAccess who have traveled outside this boundary within the past year will be the only exception. Read more... (1076 words and 1 image, estimated 4:18 mins reading time)
You would think a “trainer” would understand that the proper place to secure wheelchairs on vehicles are the “hardpoints”, the strongest attachment locations of a chair, wouldn’t you?
On most wheelchairs, these hardpoints are the bars connecting the seat to the chassis cage. Usually 4 of them are to be found on wheelchairs, they are amongst the strongest components of any chair as they’re designed to keep the seat connected to the wheelbase in motion. Read more... (507 words and 2 images, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)
Updated: 04/09/2010 @ 18:38
[Reposted from Metro ADA eNews] DCPTI comments at the end
Mt. Vernon Square Station will be closed from 9 p.m., Sunday, April 11 through Tuesday, April 13; Metrobus, MetroAccess riders expect lengthy waits, detours
The Mt. Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail Station (Yellow and Green Lines) will close at 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, and will reopen at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14 due to security concerns associated with the international Nuclear Security Summit scheduled during that time at the Washington Convention Center. Trains will be able to pass through the station, but passengers will not be allowed to access the station. Read more... (1013 words, estimated 4:03 mins reading time)
[Reposted from Metro ADA eNews]
Public invited to attend meeting on Monday, April 19 Read more... (2180 words and 1 image, estimated 8:43 mins reading time)
While the database issues mentioned previously are continuing, with reports that the Silver Spring staff have been extremely busy today trying to work around unspecified problems performing trips, DC ParaTransit Info is wondering what could cause an IVR reminder call this evening (made to customers the night before to remind them of their upcoming trips) to abort at the beginning of the message, stating:
A GPS Error has occurred
We’ve asked MetroAccess for more information, but we’re curious if this is related to the database issues, and more importantly – if this is indicative of a problem with IVR (and presumably, Trapeze) not being able to access/reference GPS data, what effect is this having on provisioning of trips? Read more... (131 words, estimated 31 secs reading time)
Given the complexity and size of MetroAccess operations, the integrity of the databases that “power” it on a day to day basis is a critical issue.
We already witnessed the kind of chaos corrupted data can cause to the system – when MV Transit was importing data from the previous contractors, Logisticare, prior to taking over the contract, DC ParaTransit Info was sounding loud warnings to WMATA that there were major omissions and discrepancies in the database information being transferred. Unfortunately, these warnings went unheeded, but the flawed database migration was noted as one of the reasons for the abysmal transition period that gained such negative attention at the beginning of MV’s term. Read more... (1714 words, estimated 6:51 mins reading time)
You have to love auto-mailer systems.
I received a letter today reminding me that I need to recertify for MetroAccess soon. The letter advised me to complete the enclosed application and return it to the office within 60 days of the date of their letter.
Except – no application form.
So I have to call them to tell them they forgot a rather important piece of information in their mailshot, and ask them to get it right.
Of course, their system probably has the 60-day clock started September 24th, the date on their letter (of which 7 days have already passed before I even received it). Read more... (297 words, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)
WMATA Office of ADA Programs Press Release:
MetroAccess Set to Begin Door-to-Door Service on June 30, 2008
Starting on Monday, June 30, MetroAccess will begin providing door-to-door service. Under the new initiative, drivers will meet customers at the first exterior door of a building and escort them to the vehicle.
Metro’s Department of Access Services wants to make it easy for MetroAccess customers to learn more about door-to-door service. MetroAccess will host three Public Information Sessions to discuss the implementation of door-to-door service. Customers who attend will hear complete details about the new service and have a chance to ask questions. Please plan to attend one of the following sessions: Read more... (413 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)
The Washington Post’s Lena Sun has an article in today’s issue regarding the mess that is MetroAccess’ certification process:
Nadia Ibrahim, a policy adviser for the Labor Department, gets to work from her Rockville home by taking MetroAccess, a paratransit service operated by Metro. Ibrahim, who has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and a service dog.
Her disability is permanent.
But every three years, she must go through a time-consuming process that will cost Metro more than $1 million this year to prove a basic fact of life for her and thousands of other riders: Her disability makes it difficult for her to ride Metrorail or Metrobus and therefore qualifies her for curb-to-curb MetroAccess service. Read more... (890 words, estimated 3:34 mins reading time)
One of the few “nice” things about Logisticare’s handling of the MetroAccess contract was the diligence and compassion many drivers displayed towards providing practical levels of service to MetroAccess riders, informal assistance that was effectively stopped quite hard when MV Transit took over the service.
Part of that compassion and provision of practical service was the pseudo “door-to-door” service many drivers gave riders, as opposed to curb to curb.
Whilst WMATA initially tried to include this in their “perks” accusations of the time, the simple fact of the matter remained that this informal arrangement drivers offered to riders was, in many cases, the only way the service could be made to work efficiently. Read more... (653 words, estimated 2:37 mins reading time)
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Disclaimer DC Paratransit Info is not affiliated with, or officially sanctioned by, any of the transit authorities or organizations discussed. Comments posted are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of DC Paratransit Info.
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