New York City NY - In a move that the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (NYMTA) is saying is not related to spiraling costs of paratransit service, the system is now requiring disabled customers to visit a testing center to be certified as being disabled. Doctor notes are no longer accepted.
The move is causing some outrage among many in the disabled community, not so much for the certification itself but in how the certification process is done. Many believe that the NYMTA needs to go to the assisted living facilities rather than have the residents trek down to a testing center.
This change of policy comes at a time when paratransit service nationwide is routinely abused. While the NYMTA claims the move isn't cost related, it really is as paratransit service is extremely expensive to provide and is rapidly draining operating funds.
Some of the abuse of paratransit comes from the ease of being classified as disabled. All you need is a note from your doctor and you can be permanently listed as disabled even for a temporary issue. The NYMTA is attempting to eliminate that rather large loophole.
The NYMTA does need to make a change in its policy however, customers from legitimate assisted living facilities should have the NYMTA examiners go there or certify a doctor at those facilities to make the determination. Other customers not in a registered facility should still be required to make the trek.
I do agree with the NYMTA however that such a certification is needed. The abuse of the much more costly paratransit service has gotten out of hand. I believe that if the NYMTA makes that one change to their policy, the criticism of the new plan will be greatly reduced as well as the abuses of the paratransit system in New York City.
The move is causing some outrage among many in the disabled community, not so much for the certification itself but in how the certification process is done. Many believe that the NYMTA needs to go to the assisted living facilities rather than have the residents trek down to a testing center.
This change of policy comes at a time when paratransit service nationwide is routinely abused. While the NYMTA claims the move isn't cost related, it really is as paratransit service is extremely expensive to provide and is rapidly draining operating funds.
Some of the abuse of paratransit comes from the ease of being classified as disabled. All you need is a note from your doctor and you can be permanently listed as disabled even for a temporary issue. The NYMTA is attempting to eliminate that rather large loophole.
The NYMTA does need to make a change in its policy however, customers from legitimate assisted living facilities should have the NYMTA examiners go there or certify a doctor at those facilities to make the determination. Other customers not in a registered facility should still be required to make the trek.
I do agree with the NYMTA however that such a certification is needed. The abuse of the much more costly paratransit service has gotten out of hand. I believe that if the NYMTA makes that one change to their policy, the criticism of the new plan will be greatly reduced as well as the abuses of the paratransit system in New York City.
3 comments:
In New York City for 2005 [source: FTA National Transit Database], demand-response transit accounted for 3/100 of 1% of all boardings, yet more than 2% of total costs, so I wouldn't blame the MTA for controlling those costs by instituting a testing center.
Demand-response is an unfunded federal mandate which costs more than giving each customer a taxi voucher.
anonymous said: Demand-response is an unfunded federal mandate which costs more than giving each customer a taxi voucher.
The entire ADA set of laws are an unfunded mandate that costs transit systems across the US billions of dollars each year. Money which can't be recovered. To charge what it actually costs to move people, especially through paratransit, systems would have to charge a minimum of $35 a trip, in many cases much more.
I agree completely that TA's need to control these costs. The NYMTA does have the right idea too. Paratransit service is one of the most abused aspects of public transit and it needs to be brought under control.
From who is elegible to service areas, the entire paratransit network is poised to drown transit systems in massive debt that will ultimately effect regular service. I have long questioned why paratransit must be countywide regardless if there is regular service closeby.
It used to be a 1/4 mile of establised fixed route service where paratransit was run but many systems have eliminated this in favor of anywhere and everywhere in the operating territory. In most cases it was due to pressure from the advocacy groups (no surprise there).
What is very scary here is that some fringe advocacy groups for the disabled are pushing for demand-response on fixed route buses as well. They want buses to make deviations from the fixed routes to accomodate them. So far they haven't gotten very far but the push is on to convert all mass transit into a super large paratransit service under the ADA laws. If that happens, grab hold of your wallet as costs will skyrocket and transit as an alternative to the driving will be history.
As a disabled Access rider I have no problem with prospective riders proving their disability. It is my best interest to see that the Access system is not abused. After I applied, I had to go downtown and visit the testing center. I had to show that I could use the lifts and ramps. They timed me as I attempted to cross a simulated street at the center. Then a tester and I went for a jaunt around the block outside to see how I would do. I've been a wheelchair user for 3 years now and without Access I would be pretty much homebound. A trip to the doctor's office using the local ambulance service's wheelchair van cost me $75 round trip so I am thankful the service is available and affordable to someone on a limited income. Also being a conditional rider I pay double fare sometimes for rides that they feel I would be able to use regular bus service instead of the wheelchair van. I'd love to be able to use the regular bus service and be able to walk again but right now that is just not possible so I am very grateful the service is available.
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