NORTH EAST TRANSPORTATION
Tel: (203) 756-5550
INFORMATION GUIDE
WHAT IS
PARATRANSIT SERVICE?
The North East Transportation (NET) Paratransit service is a public,
demand responsive minibus service for persons with disabilities
NET provides minibus service for individuals with a disability who are
unable to board, ride or exit North East Transportation’s fixed route, public
bus service.
NET Paratransit service area, as required by ADA regulation, covers a
3/4 miles radius of the fixed route service. NET services the towns of
Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, and
Wolcott.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO USE NET PARATRANSIT?
Generally, anyone who is:
· Unable to board, ride or exit from an accessible fixed route bus.
· Able to use accessible fixed route buses, but an accessible bus is not
available.
· Unable, due to impairment related conditions, to get to a bus stop.
· An individual must file a completed application and
obtain an eligibility I.D. Card before using the Paratransit service.
NOTE: Certain types of physical limitations cannot
be accommodated by a public transportation system. NET Paratransit vehicles can’t serve individuals
who are bedridden or who require specialized care not available in a public
transportation system.
OPERATING POLICIES
Hours of
Service:
Monday
through Saturday.
Reservations: Ride
reservations can be made 24 hours up to two weeks in advance. Reservations will be first-come first serve
until system is at capacity. It is
recommended that reservations be made as far in advance as possible, as the
systems fills up quickly.
Fares: Fares are
$2.00 for one way trips within the service area.
Exact
Change: Drivers cannot make change. Please have exact fare ready.
Be Ready
for the NET Vehicle:
This is a
shared ride, public transportation service, not a taxi service. Due to uncontrollable circumstances, NET may
arrive earlier or later than your scheduled pick-up time. Please be ready 15 minutes prior to your
scheduled pick-up time and allow for pick-up 15 Minutes after your scheduled
pick-up time.
Safety and
Courtesy: NET reserves the right to refuse service to
anyone who is discourteous or who may endanger his/her safety or the safety of
the driver and other passengers. Smoking
is not allowed in the vehicle.
Use Seat
Belts: All passengers are required to use the seat
belts provided on the NET Paratransit vehicles.
Please ask the driver for assistance, if needed. Wheelchair securements must be performed by
the driver only.
Attendants: Medical
attendants or aides can accompany a person free of charge. Special trips for the attendants alone will
not be made. (SEE THE ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA ENCLOSED WITH APPLICATION FOR MORE DETAILS.)
Carry your
North East Transportation I.D. Card:
You must
carry your I.D. Card at all times while riding the vehicle. You must show your I.D. Card to the driver,
if asked.
Curb-to-Curb
Service: NET
Paratransit minibus service is “curb-to-curb.” At the Company’s discretion, upon request,
“door to door” service can only be accommodated if the access is clear of any
vehicles, snow, ice, or other debris.
All ramps must be flat and built to proper building code
specifications. Assistance will be
provided to passengers boarding and deboarding vehicles if needed. Under no circumstances are drivers permitted
to enter client’s homes or other buildings.
Trip
Changes: Trip changes or requests for service cannot
be made with the driver. All trip
requests and/or changes must be made by calling the dispatcher.
Cancellations: Trip
cancellations must be phoned in to the dispatcher as much in advance as
possible. An uncancelled trip is considered a
“NO-SHOW”. Persons with three or more
no-shows may be suspended from service.
Shopping
Bags: Shoppers should transport shopping bags so
they can be safely stowed on the vehicle, under their seat, and on and off
loading does not take an unreasonable amount of time. No more than 5 bags are allowed.
Inclimate
Weather: Service is very rarely cancelled except under
extremely hazardous conditions. In the
event this should occur; cancellations are announced on the following radio
stations: WATR 1320 and WMMM 1470: and TV Stations: WTXX Ch. 20 and WVIT Ch. 30.