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ADA Eligibility Process Control Model for DART First State Paratransit
ADA Eligibility Process Control Model
for
DART First State Paratransit
Carol R. Denson, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Patricia A. Tressell, M.S.
Keith M. Casey, M.A.
Department of Consumer Studies
Center for Disabilities Studies
College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy
June 2004 TABLE of CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 1
BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................... 1
THE MODEL ............................................................................................................... 2
Research Approach ..................................................................................................... 4
Data Collection ............................................................................................................ 5
Mobility Characterization Process............................................................................ 6
Environmental Characterization Process ................................................................. 7
Method...................................................................................................................... 8
Data Reduction and Management....................................................................... 10
RESULTS.................................................................................................................... 10
The Sample ................................................................................................................ 11
The Respondents....................................................................................................... 12
Travel Aids................................................................................................................. 14
Environmental Characteristics of Routes............................................................... 15
Bus Stops ................................................................................................................ 16
Walkways ............................................................................................................... 17
Intersections ........................................................................................................... 18
Eligibility Determination......................................................................................... 19
Eligibility Status and Ride History..................................................................... 22
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................... 23
APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................. 24 1
INTRODUCTION
The ADA paratransit eligibility process control model developed from our
previous work is described in this report. The model was developed from a
method based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 categories for
eligibility. It provides the microstructure of mobility characteristics and the
microstructure of the environmental characteristics, thereby allowing for the
eligibility analysis of a given individual for a given trip. This approach provides a
framework to create a rational solution when determining paratransit eligibility.
The model was tested by using a sample of 233 eligible paratransit riders on
Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC), New Castle County. From that sample, 53
people with disabilities completed in-person interviews. The physical
environments associated with the fixed route trip that respondents indicated they
would take most frequently were also assessed. The data were successfully used
in the process control model both to determine ADA paratransit eligibility and to
analyze fixed routes for overall accessibility and compliance with the regulatory
standards.
BACKGROUND
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, defines three categories of
eligibility for complementary paratransit. The categories address functional, or
mobility, limitations of individuals; characteristics of the transit system; and
characteristics of the environmental infrastructure to and from bus stops. While
the federal mandate is clear, transit providers are challenged to develop and
implement eligibility methods that also meet local demographic situations and
local governmental needs. Even though fourteen years have passed since the
bill's passage, fair, cost-effective, and appropriate methods are still being
devised. The project described in this report presents a way to objectively
determine an ADA paratransit eligibility method for the State of Delaware. 2
Delaware Transit Corporation, the State of Delawares public sector provider of
paratransit services operating under the auspices of DART First State Paratransit,
had received an average of 173 new applications for paratransit services a month
at the beginning of this study. Furthermore, over 98% of all those seeking
eligibility were granted unconditional paratransit eligibility status even though
the cost of a paratransit trip ($26.00) in Delaware is about 10 times greater than
the cost of a fixed route bus trip ($2.50). Because of this, about 30% of the DTCs
operating budget is devoted to a paratransit system serving less than 3% of the
population. One logical way to limit these costs is to characterize eligibility, as
defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, so that only those
who truly need paratransit are eligible.
In 1997, New Castle County, the most populous county in this three-county state
and the only one with an extensive fixed route system, received an average of 96
new applications each month. By 2000, New Castle County was receiving 129
applications per month, a 34% increase over 1997. This represents an average
increase of 11% a year. While projections for future demand are uncertain, all
indicators point to even greater demand based on the trends reported for
increased levels of service since the passage of the ADA in 1990.
THE MODEL
The paratransit eligibility process control model compares the mobility attributes
of a person with a disability with the environmental attributes associated with
the use of a fixed route bus system. The model is shown in FIGURE 1. This
model closely resembles a simple process control operation. A good example of
process control is the heating system in a house where the temperature is
controlled by a thermostat. If the temperature, or the measured value, in the
house as measured by a thermometer is different than the thermostat setting, the
reference value, then a difference exists. Therefore, a corrective action takes
place, which, in this case, means running the furnace until there is an alignment
between the measured value (the thermometer) and set value (the thermostat). 3
The process control model provides a framework to objectively evaluate the
ADA eligibility status of an individual with a disability who wants to travel from
one point to another. The mobility characteristics of an individual, the measured
values, and the environmental characteristics (the reference values), provide the
critical and objective input data to the model. The mobility attributes include
such things as the ability to ambulate, climb steps, stand, wait, see, hear,
communicate, etc. (The way these attributes are identified can vary.) The
environmental characteristics are fixed points and include the features of
pathways and distances between bus stop locations at the origination and
destination points, direction of traffic, speed limits, sidewalks, curb cuts,
intersections, communication systems, and vehicle accessibility.
Programming was created with 14 sets of variables to evaluate a given riders
mobility skills with the environmental attributes for a given trip. If no difference
exists between the mobility skills and environmental attributes, no match is
made in the comparator, and the rider can access the fixed route system for this
trip. If a difference existsthe specific barriers to using the fixed route exist and
corrective action is requiredthe rider may be eligible for a paratransit trip. 4
Research Approach
Eligibility was determined using three primary sources of information (1)
responses from study participants to an in-depth in-person interview on their
use of public transit service, including identification of possib