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From: Margo.Downey@f60.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Margo Downey)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Paratransit
Message-ID: <16440@handicap.news>
Date: 25 Jun 91 15:41:49 GMT
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Index Number: 16440

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Walter, Mary, and all, we have an interesting system here that you might want
to implement in your areas.  We have the regular bus service at 60 cents a
ride--for paratransit.  We also have the voucher program.  The voucher program
lets you, in some circumstances, call a cab company and tell them you have
reserved a voucher trip.  You give the company your name, ID number, where to
pick you up.  The cab people call Special Transit and verify the trip.  They
come to get you and you pay 60 cents as if it were a regular paratransit ride.
 The system pays up to $8.75 of your trip.  So, let's say my trip came to $10.
 I would pay the 60 cents and the $1.25 to get home.  Now, let me tell you
that many drivers will just charge you the system fare--in other words, you'd
just pay the 60 cents regardless of what the total fare was.  Now, the
vouchers are used for the following circumstances:  1.  taking you to where
you need to go when you come into the airport from a trip--hard to schedule a
paratransit trip if you don't know if the plane'll be late; 2.  For bus
trips--to take you whereever after you get off the bus and get luggage; 3.
Doctors' appointments--getting you home mostly from the doctor; 4.  Work
trips--example:  Many people are now getting on permanent status and want
especially to have voucher trips to come home because maybe they have to work
overtime and don't know when they will have to--same could go for trips to
work--maybe one has to go in earlier or later; 5.  Sometimes, paratransit
screws up on a trip--at these times--they will tell you to get a voucher
trip--call a cab--and they pay the whole thing.  One time, it was raining very
hard and I was going to be late for church because the driver didn't get to
me.  Well, they told me to call a cab--I went to the church in South Austin
that day--they paid the whole $18 for me.  If anyone has further questions
about the voucher program, ask and if I don't know, I can find out very
easily.

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