TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Kathleen Kelly, Interim General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Paratransit Coverage under the August 2025 Service Change
BRIEFING ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ?
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving an update on Paratransit coverage for East Bay Paratransit (EBP) riders under the August 2025 service change, limiting coverage to a three-quarter mile buffer around the new network.
Staff Contact:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Service Quality
Providing adequate paratransit coverage within the guidance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is key to ensuring there are transportation options for those who cannot ride fixed-route service and who qualify to use paratransit service.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Adhering to a three-quarter mile buffer for paratransit eligibility associated with the service network that will be implemented in August removes eligibility for 76 existing riders and results in an estimated annual savings of up to $150,000 for EBP based on Fiscal Year 2024 ridership data (more recent data from the first half of this fiscal year suggests the number of impacted riders could be less). As a reminder, the District pays 69% of EBP costs with the remainder paid by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART).
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Prior to the pandemic, EBP provided an estimated 2,700 trips per day. Following the state of emergency and shelter-in-place orders, the number of trips fell to about 300 trips per day, almost overnight. With additional capacity to provide service during the pandemic, the District participated in food delivery to seniors and those in need outside of the normal paratransit eligibility zones. Although this program was initially intended to be in effect for a six-month period, the Board later extended the food delivery program u...
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