Transportation

Shrewsbury COA Van Services

Cynthia M. Willis
Transportation Coordinator

Two levels of van service are available to qualified town residents who are elderly and/or disabled. One is the Regular van service, which runs on a fixed schedule each week. The other is called the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) level of service. Under the ADA Civil Rights Law, individuals who qualify are entitled to equal or comparable service to what they would receive if they were able to use a WRTA city bus. Since the COA has two vans, trips are also available to Westborough and group outings. This sheet should help compare the differences between the two types of service.

Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) - The Way to Go!

ADA Service		Regular (Non-ADA) Service
Who Is Eligible?
	Anyone who applies and meets the ADA eligibility criteria		Any Shrewsbury resident 60 or older
	Anyone who applies and meets the ADA eligibility criteria		Any disabled Shrewsbury resident regardless of age
			Any disabled Shrewsbury resident regardless of age
What Is The Service Area?
	Anywhere in Worcester		Shrewsbury
	Also anywhere within the ¾ mile corridors that surround the WRTA bus routes outside the city*		Worcester
			Westborough*
			Other towns for special group trips
*Please note Westborough is not within the ADA service area, however ADA riders may go there under the Non-ADA guidelines.

What Kinds of Trips Can You Request?
	Any trip, for any purpose, within the ADA service area		Any trip, for any purpose, within Shrewsbury, Worcester or Westborough. However, special attention is given to trips for medical appointments or other trips that can be grouped together. Scheduled COA trips (to go grocery shopping, the mall, lunch site, and so on) will take precedence over individual trips that do not fit into the schedule.
	Any trip, for any purpose, within the ADA service area






When Can You Travel?
	During the same days/hours that the associated bus route(s) run		Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm, during the scheduled runs
			Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm, during the scheduled runs

How are Trips Scheduled?
	Trip times can be negotiated up to one hour before or one hour after the requested time without making the rider late for appointments.		Trips must be scheduled within the time frames associated with each run.
			Non-ADA trips can be "bumped" by ADA trips
			Non-ADA trips can be "bumped" by ADA trips
	ADA trips are prioritized over non-ADA trips		Return trips must be pre-scheduled
			"No Show" Policy same
			"No Show" Policy same
	Return trips must be pre-scheduled
	"No Show" Policy in place

What if My Appointment Does Not Fit in with the Schedule?
	Trip is brokered to another service provider, if one is available		If Ambulatory, a volunteer is sought, if available
			If Ambulatory, a volunteer is sought, if available
			If a lift is required for boarding, AVCOA will be used if available


Time Frame for Scheduling Trips:
	As late as 4:30 PM the day before the trip		Must call no later than 10am the morning before the desired trip
	As late as 4:30 PM the day before the trip
	As early as 7 days in advance

Driver Assistance Policy:
	Assistance available from curb of origin		Assistance available from curb of origin to curb of destination to first outside step of destination
	Assistance available from curb of origin

If there is Inclement Weather:
	If trip was with COA van, the van must be off the road.		If Shrewsbury schools are closed, van is required to be off the road
	If trip was with COA van, the van must be off the road.
	If trip had been brokered out, it will be up to the provider if they can still do the trip.		If a volunteer was scheduled, the volunteer will decide if he/she wants to provide the trip


	Special circumstances may apply if more than one provider is involved in the trip


Fares: One-Way as of 7/1/01:
	Within Shrewsbury $ 2.00		Within Shrewsbury: $1.00
	One community away 2.50		To Worcester & Westborough 1.25
	Two communities away 3.00		To Solomon Pond Mall 1.50
	Three communities away 3.50

Who Can Travel with You? What Fare Do They Pay?
	A PCA(Personal Care Attendant) may accompany you if you cannot travel without help. The PCAs ride free.		A spouse or someone else if you need help. The person would pay the same fare as you. The person must get picked up and dropped off at the same locations as yourself.


	Space is guaranteed for one companion. Additional companions may accompany you if space is available. Companions pay the same as the ADA rider.

	PCAs and Companions must have the same origin and destination as the ADA rider.

Other Common ADA Questions:

If I Am Approved for ADA, Do I Always Have To Pay the Higher ADA Fare?
No. You may request either an ADA or a non-ADA trip. If you request a non-ADA trip and follow the procedures for using non-ADA service, you can get the lower fare.

Can I Use the Regular Van Service While I Wait to be Approved for ADA?
You are welcome to call with your requests under the regular non-ADA trip guidelines. We will be happy to assist you if we can accommodate you.

What if I Need to Make an ADA Trip Request Over the Weekend for an Upcoming Sunday or Monday?
Call Paratransit Brokerage Services, Inc. (PBSI) at 508-797-5560 or 1-800-499-6384 between 8:00am and 4:30pm to make your request. The number is also given over our voice mail every weekend. For any other trips, you can leave requests on our voice mail at any time for the Transportation Coordinator.

What if I am Approved for ADA and Do Not Live Within the ADA Service Area?
You will be eligible for ADA trips whenever you are in the service area. Keep in mind however, that any trip to or from your home would not be an ADA trip because your home lies outside the corridor. Our van can take you into or out of the ADA service area under non-ADA trip guidelines, according to the fixed schedule. Otherwise, you would need to find alternative means (taxi, friends, relatives) to get you into or out of the ADA service area. Because this particular issue can be rather complicated, you may call the COA or the number listed on the ADA brochure for specific information if needed.

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For more inquiries or information contact us at 508-841-8640.