Reaffirming its commitment to providing high quality service to all passengers while also highlighting the challenges facing persons with mobility impairments, SamTrans has declared October “Disabilities Awareness Month.”
By recognizing October as “Disabilities Awareness Month,” SamTrans focuses special attention on the difficulties facing persons with mobility impairments, reflects on measures that are being extended to assist them, increases public awareness of new opportunities to meet their special needs and draws specific attention to the bus agency’s efforts to serve this community.
The SamTrans Board of Directors unanimously approved the resolution at its October meeting, reflecting the efforts the agency puts forth in providing paratransit trips each year for passengers with disabilities.
All SamTrans buses are equipped with lifts and ramps that can be used by people who use mobility devices or cannot climb steps. Each bus also has a kneeling feature that lowers the front end so that the first step is easier to reach. The side-facing seats in front of every bus are priority seating for seniors and persons with disabilities, and service animals, such as guide dogs, may accompany passengers who rely on their assistance. SamTrans offers discounted fares for disabled passengers and the bus agency offers travel and training tips for people with mobility impairments.
In the past year, SamTrans has accomplished the following achievements regarding service for disabled passengers:
- Provided more than 353,000 paratransit trips to eligible riders through its Redi-Wheels and RediCoast service.
- Processed nearly 3,200 evaluations forms for San Mateo County residents to be eligible for paratransit service.
- Maintained a “zero trip denial” policy on Redi-Wheels and RediCoast.
- Provided travel training for new customers.
- Provided safe, reliable paratransit service for county residents.
Additional information about SamTrans’ services, including travel tips for passengers with mobility impairments, can be found online at https://www.samtrans.com/Accessibility/Riding_with_a_Disability.html.
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About SamTrans: SamTrans operates 79 routes throughout San Mateo County. Funded in part by a half-cent sales tax, the San Mateo County Transit District also provides administrative support for Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. SamTrans has provided bus service to San Mateo County customers since 1976.
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