Policies
For
GWTD
DIAL
A
RIDE
Adopted:
Amended:
Amended:
GWTD-Dial-A-Ride
Greater Waterbury Transit District
T/F: 203 573-8627
Email: GWTD8@aol.com
Website: www.gwtd.org
Board of Directors
Yvonne Smith-Isaac, M.D.,
Doreen Pulisciano,
Richard Fusco,
Douglas Coley, Wolcott, Treasurer
Carolyn Giguere, Thomaston, Bookkeeper
Vacant,
JoAnn Cappelletti, Middlebury
Lynn Donovan,
Sally Schilke,
Vacant, Prospect
Ann LaPorta,
James Secula,
Rose-Ellen Theriault
Municipalities
Town of
Town of
Borough of
Town of
Town of
City of
Town of
Town of
Transportation Provider
North East Transportation, Barbara Kalosky, General
Manager
Grant Bookkeeper
Kenneth Burkman
INDEX
Page
A.
Introduction
1.
History
and Funding
5
2.
Organization
5
B. GWTD-Dial-A-Ride
Eligibility
1.
Eligibility
6
2.
Application
6
3.
Appeal
Process for Eligibility Denials
6
C. Service
Policies
1. Service Area
7
2. Days and Hours of Operations
7
3. Holidays
7
4. Fares 7
5. Curb to Curb Service 7
6. Demand Responsive Trips
7
7. Trip Purpose
7
8. Accommodating Mobility Aids 8
D. Passenger
Policies
1.
Reservations
8
2.
Personal
Care Attendants 9
3.
One
trip per Ride Request
9
4.
Trip
Change
9
5.
Seatbelt
and Mobility Aid Securement
9
6.
Smoking
9
7.
Shopping
Bags 9
8.
Cancellations
9
9.
No
Shows 10
10. Denied Trip Request
10
11. Severe Weather Operation 10
E.
Suspension and Appeals Policies
1.
No
Shows
2.
Cancellation
10
3.
Violent,
Disruptive, Illegal Behavior 10
4.
Appeal
Process
11
A.
Introduction
1.
History
and Funding
After a review of the
Elderly Transportation Services by the Legislative Program Review and
Investigations Committee in 1998 highlighting the inconsistent availability of
transportation across the state for the elderly and persons with disabilities,
Connecticut General Statutes 13b-38bb, Municipal Grant Program for Senior and
Disabled Demand Responsive Transportation was created in 1998 and funded in
2006.
The Greater Waterbury
Transit District member municipalities entered into an agreement with the
Greater Waterbury Transit District Board of Directors to jointly apply for the
Municipal Grant Program for Senior and Disabled Demand Responsive
Transportation (CGS 13b-38bb) FY 2007 from the Connecticut Department of
Transportation.
This Matching Grant
Program is not intended to replace funds previously spent by municipalities on
transporting the elderly or persons with disabilities. This program is intended
to expand a coordinated transportation system for the elderly and persons with
disabilities.
The maximum amount
each municipality can receive is based on two parts:
1.)
The
2000 U.S. Census count of people 60 years and older in the municipality
relative to the state’s population of people 60 years or older is 50%, and
2.)
The municipality’s
square acreage relative to the state’s total square acreage is 50%.
The
municipality agrees to provide the Connecticut Department of Transportation
with financial records of expenditures on transportation for the elderly and
disabled and documentation of the level of ridership and hours of service, when
requested to do so.
The
eight Greater Waterbury Transit District member municipalities applied to the
Municipal Grant Program for Senior and Disabled Demand Responsive
Transportation (CGS 13b-38bb) as a group to provide coordinated transportation.
These eight municipalities are
2.
Organization
Board
of Directors
The
Board of Directors is composed of representatives appointed by member
municipalities. Each board member has a vote proportional to the population of
his/her member community. The Board of Directors has policy making and
administrative authority. The Board of Directors meets monthly, or at least
four times a year.
Municipal
Transportation Providers
The
Municipal Transportation Providers is composed of the Municipalities Elderly
and Disabled Transportation Service Directors participating with the Greater
Waterbury Transit District for the Municipal Grant Program. The Providers will
network, collect and review data, perform public relations, and coordinate
trips and other duties as needed.
Contracted
Transportation Service
The
Greater Waterbury Transit District contracts with a Transportation Service
Provider to provide transportation operational service. The service includes
reservations, scheduling, dispatching, customer service and transportation.
Any
and all data collected or produced through this program is available
exclusively from the State of
B.
GWTD-Dial-A-Ride
Eligibility
1.
Eligibility
To
be eligible to use the GWTD-Dial-A-Ride Transportation Service you must be:
a.
60
years and older OR
b.
A
person with a disability AND
c.
A
resident of Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Thomaston, Waterbury,
Watertown or Wolcott
2.
Application
An
application needs to be filled out and returned to the designated address to
start to use the GWTD-Dial-A-Ride. An ID card will be sent to you for you to
use to make reservations and board the vehicle. Applications will be available
at municipal senior centers. For
3.
Appeal
Process for Eligibility Denials
If
an individual is deemed ineligible for GWTD-Dial-A-Ride, they will be provided
with the specific reasons for the denial. The Greater Waterbury Transit
District shall provide xzadministrative appeals processes through which
individuals who are denied eligibility may obtain a review of the denial. The
appeals process is as follows:
All
appeals for eligibility denial must be filed within sixty (60) days of the
denial of an individual’s application. The appeal shall be address to the
Greater Waterbury Transit District, c/o Yvonne Denise Smith-Isaac, M.D.,
Chairman,
C. Service Policies
1. Service Area
The Service Area for the GWTD-Dial-A-Ride
includes
2.
Days
and Hours of Service
Days and hours of service are Monday thru
Friday
Each municipality will have one weekday
service.
Each municipality will one Saturday service
a month.
3.
Holidays
No service on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day,
Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
4.
Fares
No fares.
Curb to curb service is the policy. Door to
door service is done on request. Drivers
are not allowed inside anyone’s home or other buildings.
6. Demand Responsive Service
Demand Responsive Services are trips that
you call for a reservation each time.
7. Trip Purpose
No limitations based
on trip purpose.
8.
Accommodating
Mobility Aids
All common wheelchairs are accepted.
Common wheelchairs are 30 inches in width
and 48 inches in length. The weight, with the user in it, should not exceed 600
pounds.
Three- and four-wheeled scooters are
accepted.
Weights 600 pounds or greater will break or
disable the wheelchair lift.
1.
Reservation
a.
Reservations can be made 3 to 14 days in
advance. Hours for reservations are
b.
One round trip per call.
c.
No priority on reservations
d.
Earliest trip is
e.
Last trip is
f.
Know these things when calling for a
reservation:
1. Name
2. ID
Card Number
3. Date
of Trip
4. Time
of Pick-up and Return
5. Addresses
of Pick-up and Drop-off
6. If
a PCA is accompanying you
7. If
special needs are required
g.
Be ready 15 minutes before scheduled pick-up
time
h.
This
is a shared ride. Be sure to allow time
for other pick-ups when making your reservation so as not to be late for an
appointment
2.
Personal
Care Attendant
Personal Care Attendant (PCA) is someone who
helps an eligible rider with his or her personal needs.
A PCA can ride for free with an eligible rider.
A PCA cannot ride the service alone.
3.
One
Drop-off per Ride Request
Vans will not wait while eligible rider
conducts business at a drop-off place.
A separate return trip is needed.
4.
Trip
Change
Trip changes or other requests cannot be done
by driver. Call the reservationists if
changes need to be made.
5.
Seatbelts
and Mobility Aid Securement
All passengers are required to use the seat
belts provided on the vehicles.
Wheelchair securements must be performed by the driver only.
If you have a problem putting on a seatbelt,
then ask the driver for help.
If the seatbelt is in
poor condition please tell the driver and/or North East Transportation
(NET). (You can contact NET at 756-5550)
6.
Smoking
No smoking on the van is permitted.
7.
Shopping
Bags
Eligible riders are allowed five standard
sized shopping bags on the van as long as they can be safely stowed.
Drivers are not required to help you with
your shopping bags except to stow them on the van.
8. Cancellations
If you need to cancel a trip you reserved,
please call the phone number on your ID card as soon as possible.
If you have four cancellations in a 60
calendar day period, this will be considered excessive and sanctions will be
imposed. (See C. Suspension and Appeals
Policies)
9.
No
Show Trips
Eligible riders should be ready 15 minutes
before the schedule pick-up time to board the van. If not ready to board the van within five
minutes after the schedule pick-up time, this will be consider a no show trip.
If you have two no show trips in a 30
calendar day period, this will be consider excessive and sanctions will be
imposed. (See C. Sanction and Appeals
Policies)
9.
Denied
Trip
Trips
may be denied because of limited availability.
10.
Severe
Weather Operation Policy
In severe weather conditions cancellation of
service can be heard on TV Channels 30, 3, and 8. On Radio stations WATR 1320
AM, WMMW 1470 AM and WWCO 1240.
If you are out on a trip with the
GWTD-Dial-A-Ride when severe weather occurs, call NET to confirm your return
trip at 756-5550.
E. Suspension and Appeal Policies
1.
No
Shows
“NO SHOW” CLIENT OFFENSE GWTD BOARD RECOURSE
|
No
Show - 1st offense |
Warning
Letter |
|
No
Show anytime with-in the next 30 days from the receipt of notifying letter |
30 days suspension |
|
No
Show anytime with-in the following 30 days from above |
60 days suspension |
|
No
Show anytime after above |
365
days suspension. Client must submit a
written letter to the GWTD Board of Directors to request reinstatement |
To a
2. Cancellations
If you have four four cancellations within a
60 calendar day period you will be suspended from service as follow:
|
First Sanction |
30 Day Suspension |
|
Second Sanction |
90 Day Suspension |
|
Third Sanction |
180 Suspension |
|
Fourth Sanction |
365 Suspension |
You will be notified in writing or other
accessible format of the sanction and suspension, and offered information to appeal
the suspension decision.
2. Violent, Disruptive, or
Illegal Behavior
GWTD-Dial-A-Ride will not tolerate behavior
which endangers the safety of the driver or other passengers.
A written warning will be issued stating the
offense and potential for suspension of service if repeated. In the case of a rider with a cognitive
disability we suggest that a Personal Care Attendant accompany the rider.
If the offense continues the following
sanctions are:
|
First Sanction |
Written Notice |
|
Second Sanction |
30 Day Suspension |
|
Third Sanction |
60 Suspension |
|
Fourth Sanction |
90 Suspension |
Suspension will be increased by 30 days for
each sanction.
For serious offenses,
service will be suspended immediately until such time as the rider can prove
he/she is not a danger to other passengers or the driver.
3.
Appeals
To appeal decisions made by Greater
Waterbury Transit District (GWTD) for suspension of service:
a.
Send a letter to GWTD requesting an Appeal
Hearing
b.
If not satisfied with GWTD Appeal decision,
write to Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT)
c.
You have the ability to hire a lawyer at any
time
Addresses:
Greater Waterbury Transit District
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Michael Sanders
Public Transportation Administrator
2800