Spring ‘09 WHEELS
Making Transit Accessible for All
TAXI ACCESS II
On January 5, 2009, MTA Mobility implemented modifications to its Taxi Access Service and renamed it Taxi Access II. Taxi Access II is a premium service and is not mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is not part of MTA Mobility Service, but rather a separate and distinct MTA service provided under contract by participating taxicab and sedan companies. Customers must be certified for MTA Mobility Service for at least 90 calendar days and be at least 13 years old to be eligible. All applicants must be capable of boarding, riding and exiting vehicles either independently or with the assistance of a companion.
How does Taxi Access II Service work?
• Customers are issued a card with a unique number identifying them as Taxi Access II customers.
• Customers can use this card up to 2 times a day to travel within the MTA Mobility Service area (within 3/4 mile of MTA fixed-route service).
• Customers pay $3.00 for each one-way trip.
• Upon reaching his/her destination, if the meter reads over $20.00, the customer will pay the driver the amount over $20.00 (in addition to the $3.00 base fare).
• Customers call participating taxi/sedan companies to arrange for a ride, identifying themselves as Taxi Access II participants, at least 40 minutes before the desired pick-up time.
• Customer’s Taxi Access II card is used by the driver both at the start of the trip and at the end of the trip. The driver must provide the completed receipt to the customer for the customer to review and sign. Customers should verify all receipt information for accuracy before signing. The customer signature validates the transaction and authorizes payment. Customers are required to keep all receipts for a period of 6 months for
auditing purposes.
Taxi Access II is available as a supplement to MTA Mobility Service, not to replace it. It is designed to provide a “same day/spontaneous” transportation option for those unplanned situations where advance reservations are not possible, such as a trip to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. MTA does not control taxi/sedan companies. Taxi Access II does not guarantee a trip, and all trips are subject to the availability of a taxi/sedan at the time of the call to dispatch. With the January 5th implementation, Taxi Access II customers using wheelchairs may use the service, but there are a very limited number of wheelchair accessible taxis. Upon applying for Taxi Access II, a policy statement is issued to the applicant providing all of the requirements for using Taxi Access II. The policies should be read carefully and adhered to in order to remain eligible for Access II customers are strongly encouraged to use trip planning assistance to ensure their trips are within the $20.00 limit. For a Taxi Access II application, contact the MTA Certification Office at 410-764-8181, press 2, then 3. For additional information about the service, go online to the website www.taxiaccess.org or call MJM Taxi Access II Customer Service at 410-664-2030.
MEET THE NEW CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION (CACAT)
In January 2009, the responsibility for CACAT was transferred from the MTA Office of Fair Practices to the MTA Customer Information Office.
The new CACAT facilitator is Ms. Denise Hagans. The Co-Facilitator is Mr. Lawrence Hawkins.
WHO are the CACAT officers? Mr. Charles Brown is the Chairperson and Mr. Gary Messman is the Committee Co-chair.
WHAT is the CACAT? The Maryland Transit Administration is committed to providing the highest possible level of reliable, affordable, convenient and accessible service to its customers. To meet this goal, the MTA has established the volunteer Consumer Advisory Committee for Accessible Transportation (CACAT) to maintain responsive and timely communications between the agency and its customers. CACAT provides the agency and the community with an opportunity to share information and enables the customers to personally share their perspectives and concerns.
PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE: The Committee functions in an advisory role and, at its discretion, in an advocacy capacity. The Committee shall provide and foster meaningful and effective participation in the planning, administration and monitoring
of the quality of existing MTA service. It also promotes policies in support of the goals of an expanded, accessible, customer-responsive public transportation system.
Some of the functions of CACAT are:
1. Monitor and report on service quality.
2. Provide advice to the MTA about fare structure, service modification and overall service performance.
3. Provide a forum for education of MTA customers.
4. Provide advice to the MTA about proposed State and federal legislation and its possible impact on MTA service.
5. Serve as MTA consumer input group during project planning to ensure that MTA customers and community interests and needs are adequately recognized and taken into consideration.
CACAT meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6 Saint Paul Street’s 5th floor Conference Room at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.
For more information please contact Ms. Denise Hagans at 410-767-8359 or Mr. Lawrence Hawkins at 410-767-8837.
This letter was sent to MTA Mobility giving kudos to Mobility Driver Willie Hawthorne for saving the life of an MTA Mobility dialysis customer. The letter detailing the life saving action of Mr. Hawthorne is printed below:
Dear MTA Mobility,
On Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Mr. Willie ‘Butch’ Hawthorne was responsible for helping me as we were on the way to Davita Catonsville Dialysis Center located at 1581 Sulphur Spring Road. Between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. my body went into anaphylactic shock on the Mobility bus that Mr. Hawthorne was driving. He had the presence of a great mind and God on his side! Mr. Hawthorne parked the bus outside of the dialysis facility and notified the Mobility dispatcher and the dialysis center of the life-threatening situation. He then hurried into the Center so the staff could come to my assistance. They called 911 and rushed me to the hospital. I stayed overnight, and then I was released Thursday evening to return home. I resumed dialysis on Friday, July 25th. I am so grateful for Mr. Hawthorne’s immediate action and God being on my side. I am writing this letter to inform you of the incident that occurred. If there is (within your company) a way to honor my life saver, I would highly recommend that ‘Butch’ receive kudos and special recognition. Mr. Hawthorne celebrated a birthday on August 30th, 2008. May peace and blessings be with you, Butch, and the entire Mobility family. I have been a patient for 6 years at Davita Catonsville Dialysis Center located at 1581 Sulphur Spring Road.
BUTCH IS FOREVER IN MY HEART!
Caroline Carter
11 FRIENDLY MOBILITY CUSTOMER REMINDERS
1. Carry your MTA Mobility Smart Card ID at all times.
2. Show your MTA Mobility ID to the driver upon entering the MTA Mobility vehicle.
3. Have the exact fare of $1.85 and pay the driver upon entering the vehicle as no change will be given.
4. Take all personal belongings with you when exiting the MTA Mobility vehicle.
5. Only two bags are permitted for each passenger being transported.
6. When making a ride reservation, make sure you have the correct name, address, phone number of the location of your destination, and the date & time you are traveling.
7. When waiting for your MTA Mobility ride, wait at the curb or BE VISIBLE so you can see the MTA Mobility vehicle and the vehicle driver can SEE YOU.
8. If you cannot travel alone, handle your walker or wheelchair by yourself, or you have cognitive challenges, contact the MTA Certification Office to register for a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) to travel with you.
9. Notify MTA Mobility at least two hours in advance when cancelling your ride so as not to inconvenience other Mobility customers who may be scheduled to ride with you.
10. Notify MTA Mobility of your change of address and phone number as soon as possible so your service will not be affected.
11. Severe weather may delay or cancel MTA Mobility service. Listen to local radio or watch television for service announcements.
NEW MOBILITY VEHICLE SEATBELT/WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT POLICY ENHANCES RIDERSHIP SAFETY
It is the responsibility of all MTA Mobility customers (ambulatory or wheelchair users), companions, personal care attendants, operators, managers, supervisors and contractors to wear seatbelts or have wheelchairs secured when riding in an MTA Mobility vehicle. For those Mobility customers who choose not to adhere to the policy, a Mobility Supervisor will be contacted. The customer’s trip will be cancelled. It will be noted that the customer was unwilling to be properly secured in an MTA Mobility vehicle.
MTA Mobility is very serious about the safety of all of its passengers, children and adults. Please note that all children under eight years old must be secured in an approved child safety seat provided by the customer... if not, the trip will be cancelled. MTA
Mobility would like to thank you in advance for your assistance in making our service a safe mode of transportation for the customers we serve.
MOBILITY PHONE NUMBER 410-764-8181
When you call the new number, here is the menu that will direct you to your desired location:
Press 1
Reservations
1 Cancel
2 Late Line
3 Next Day
4 Future
9 Repeat Reservation Menu
* Return to Main Menu
Press 2
Mobility & Taxi Access Certification
1 General Questions & to Request Applications
2 Mobility Application Status
3 Taxi Access Application Status
9 Repeat Certification Menu
* Return to Main Menu
Press 3
Customer Service
For Compliments, Suggestions & Complaints
Press 4
Current Status of Service
To check on the current status of service in case of inclement weather
or difficult traffic conditions
Press 9
Repeat Main Menu
To get to somewhere else on the menu
IMPORTANT NUMBERS TO SAVE
Mobility Information 410-764-8181
Fax 410-764-7624
Mobility Reservations 410-764-8181 ext. 1
Mobility Cancellation Line ext. 1-1
Mobility Late Line ext. 1-2
Mobility/Taxi Access II Certification ext. 2
Mobility Customer Service ext. 3
Current Status of Mobility Service .ext. 4
MTA & Mobility Website www.mtamaryland.com
Taxi Access II Website www.taxiaccess.org
MJM Customer Service (Taxi Access II) 410-664-2030
Reduced Fare Certification (6 St. Paul St.) 410-767-3441
Reduced Fare TTY 410-333-2051
MTA Transit Information 410-539-5000
Toll-free 866-RIDE-MTA (743-3682)
MTA TTY 410-539-3497
Maryland Relay DIAL 7-1-1
WHEELS
A newsletter for MTA’s Mobility customers published quarterly by:
MTA Mobility Communications Department
4201 Patterson Ave., 2nd Fl., Baltimore, MD 21215
and
MTA Office of Communications and Marketing
6 St. Paul St., 2nd Fl., Baltimore, MD 21202
www.mtamaryland.com
This publication is available in alternate format upon request.
8K 5/09
