DEMAND
RESPONSE TRANSPORTATION - Download DART Application - click here
Click here for How to Ride Presentation for Disabled Citizens.
Click here for Paratransit Rider's Guide
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) provides
demand response transportation services for people who, because
of their disability, are unable to independently use the regular,
accessible PSTA buses. Demand response service is a form of public
transportation. Passengers will be required to share a ride whenever
possible, as is done on the regular bus system. PSTA is not required
to ensure that a passenger rides alone on a vehicle. Please
click on the links below to learn more:
Eligibility
Where can I go?
How much does it cost?
How do I make a reservation?
What about passengers with special needs?
Demand response transportation drivers will not:
What if I travel on a regular basis to the same destination?
What is permitted on board the vehicle?
What
can I do if I am not eligible to ride PSTA's Demand
Response Transportation according to the ADA regulations?
Eligibility (Back to Top)
The
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) makes it possible for people
with disabilities to have better access to
the community. PSTA's "functional" demand response transportation
certification process will encourage people to use regular PSTA
fixed route service whenever possible. In this way, PSTA is ensuring
that demand response transportation will only be used by those
who truly need the service.
A "functional" certification process determines
if a person has the ability to use the regular bus. It does not
make decisions based on the type of disability you have or a specific
diagnosis by a physician. Rather, it determines if you are able
to do such things as travel to a bus stop, board a bus, and navigate
the fixed route system. In-person assessments are also utilized
on an as-needed basis to facilitate determining eligibility. Eligibility
for demand response services is a transportation decision, not
a medical decision.
There are three categories under which a person can
be eligible for demand response transportation:
Category 1
Eligibility includes
those persons who, because of their disability, cannot independently
use a regular,
accessible bus.
Category 2
Eligibility is based
on the accessibility of vehicles and terminal/stops (i.e., a
person is able to use the
regular bus, but it is not yet accessible).
Category 3
Eligibility pertains
to situations in which a person cannot travel independently to
or from a bus stop.
A person can also be given "conditional" eligibility
for demand response transportation if they are able to use the
regular bus under certain conditions, but not others. In this situation,
eligibility for demand response transportation will be determined
according to a particular set of circumstances or conditions, which
pertain to a person's disability.
If you have a permanent or temporary disability and are unable to independently
use the regular, wheelchair accessible PSTA buses, call PSTA at (727) 540-1800 (after November 30, 2005)
for an application form. These forms are also available at the PSTA facility
located at 3201 Scherer Drive, St. Petersburg, 33716 (after November 30, 2005).
Where can I go? (Back
to Top)
Demand response services are provided wherever regular
PSTA bus service is available. Areas not included: Belleair Beach,
Belleair Shores, Kenneth City, Mullet Key, Weedon Island and any
area outside a three-quarter mile dimension of regular bus routes.
Service area is subject to change. Service is not available outside
Pinellas County.
Demand response transportation services is available
during the same days and hours as the regular bus service for any
given trip request. Where architectural barriers such as lack of
curb cuts or sidewalk are the only impediment to using accessible
buses, an individual may be transported to a bus transfer point
where an accessible bus can be boarded. Upon certification, you
will be notified of the conditions of your eligibility. Bus schedules
will be provided indicating the days and hours you can travel on
PSTA's demand response transportation.
How much does it cost? (Back
to Top)
The fare for demand response transportation can be
no more than twice the full cash fare for the same trip on the
regular fixed route bus system. No discounts are offered. Once
the fare for a demand response trip has been determined, correct
fare is necessary when boarding the vehicle. Convenient frequent-rider
tickets are also available, but may need to be supplemented when
a higher fare is necessary for a particular trip. (Note: Checks
and credit cards are not accepted.)
How
do I make a reservation? (Back
to Top)
Ambulatory Trip Reservations/Cancellation (727) 724-0440
Wheelchair Trip Reservations/Cancellation (727) 585-9900
Demand Response Information (727) 540-1800
You may call up to one (1) month before your scheduled
trip to make a reservation, but no later than 5:00 p.m. the day
before your trip. Telephone operators are available to take reservations
between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and between
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
In order to accommodate as many riders as possible,
pick-up times will be negotiated up to one hour before or after
the pick-up time requested by the passenger.
Cancellations must be made at least two hours prior
to a scheduled pick-up time, or the trip will be deemed a "no
show." Drivers are not permitted to wait more than five minutes
after a scheduled pick up time. If a passenger is not at the door,
ready to board a vehicle within five minutes of the scheduled pick-up
time, the trip will be deemed a "no show." Passengers
will be billed for each no-show trip, and service may be discontinued
if a passenger establish a pattern of regular and repeated no-shows. These regulations are in place to help PSTA serve its passengers.
What about passengers with
special needs? (Back
to Top)
Accessible vehicles are available for non-ambulatory
passengers who utilize wheelchairs. However, wheelchair lifts on
PSTA demand response vehicles cannot accommodate wheelchair devices
which exceed 30 inches in width, 48 inches in length (measured
2 inches above the ground), or 600 pounds in weight when occupied.
In addition, PSTA requires that all wheelchairs be secured by the
securement system of the vehicle during transport. Driver assistance
is provided when boarding and leaving the vehicle, and to/from
building entrances when necessary. In addition, the Information
and Reservation lines are Voice/TTY accessible.
Please note: emergency transportation service is not provided and demand response
transportation drivers are not trained in emergency medical techniques.
Demand response transportation
drivers will not: (Back
to Top)
Enter a person's home, even to assist with a wheelchair.
Administer or assist in administering medication, or provide medical treatment.
Lift or carry any passenger at any time.
Lift or carry packages, parcels, or groceries at any time.
Passengers who cannot travel independently or need special assistance should
travel with a Personal Care Attendant (PCA). Passengers with small children
must provide their own child safety seats.
What if I travel on a regular basis to the same destination? (Back
to Top)
Subscriptions can be made for certain trips and will
permit you to travel without having to make a reservation each
time you ride.
What is permitted on board
the vehicle? (Back
to Top)
No smoking, eating, or drinking is permitted in the
paratransit vehicle.
Riders may bring one (1) portable oxygen tank.
Tipping the driver is not permitted.
Disruptive on-board behavior may result in the termination of riding privileges,
or the requirement that the passenger travel with an attendant.
Guide dogs and service animals are welcome.
What
can I do if I am not eligible to ride PSTA's Demand Response Transportation according to the ADA regulations? (Back
to Top)
If you do not qualify for PSTA's demand response
transportation services, a letter will be mailed explaining the
reason and advising you of procedures to follow if you wish to
appeal. If your condition changes in the future, you may reapply
for PSTA demand response transportation services.
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