DRLC in investigating claims that Access Paratransit in Los Angeles is not providing meaningful transportation services to persons with disabilities. Public entities that operate fixed route transportation services for the general public are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to provide ADA complementary paratransit service for persons who, because of their disability, are unable to use the fixed route system. These regulations (49 CFR Parts 27, 37, 38, and 39) include eligibility requirements and service criteria that must be met by ADA complementary paratransit service programs. Section 37.135(d) of the regulations required that ADA complementary paratransit service met these criteria by January 26, 1997. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is responsible for ensuring compliance with the ADA and the DOT regulations implementing the ADA.

It appears that Access Paratransit’s services are not provided in a timely fashion, sometimes requiring 4-5 hours of transit in routes that would normally take half of that time. Because of these delays, PWD are late to work, employment, and doctor appointments, among other things. We don’t believe that these services are comparable to similar public transportation services, e.g. buses. Thus far, we have received complaints from individuals accessing these services in Santa Monica, but believe that these issues are present throughout LA County. We need to get a clear factual understanding of Access Paratransit structure (factual) as well a legal memorandum on whether these delays would constitute a violation of the ADA and other disability laws.