Despite Challenges, Paratransit Providers Find Ways to Improve Service

This article provides information on how transit agencies are finding new ways to provide paratransit services for an aging population. Based on Metro magazines’s fourth annual paratransit survey, the two largest public paratransit agencies in the U.S. are San Francisco’s, with 1,732 revenue vehicles, and Chicago’s, with 1,496. The smallest has three vehicles. Small and mid-size buses make up just over 41 percent of respondents’ fleets, while vans comprise 17.8 percent and taxis make up 40.8 percent. These figures show a slight increase in the use of small buses and a small decrease in the number of mid-size buses. The article is illustrated with a number of charts, which break down vehicle purchasing plans, integration of paratransit with fixed-route service, percentage of paratransit vehicles by type, greatest driver-related concern, and others. The article also describes operational challenges as well as innovations. Included is a brief accompanying article on safety procedures for wheelchair lifts.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/32522860
• Authors:
  • Atkinson, Claire
• Publication Date: 2007-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Illustrations; Photos;
• Pagination: pp 30, 32, 34
• Serial:
  • Metro
  • Volume: 103
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: Bobit Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 1098-0083
  • Serial URL: http://www.metro-magazine.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Paratransit services; Paratransit vehicles; Transit vehicle operations; Wheelchair lifts
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01055777
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 19 2007 5:59PM