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ADA Paratransit

Public transit providers are mandated by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide mobility for people who, due to a disability, are unable to ride regular public transit some or all of the time. ADA paratransit supplements regular public transit. This means paratransit services operate in the same areas, on the same days, and during the same hours as public transit. ADA paratransit services in Contra Costa County include County Connection Link, Tri Delta Paratransit, WestCAT Paratransit, and East Bay Paratransit.

ADA Paratransit
  • Information About ADA
  • Avaliable Transportation Services
 


 
Service:

County Connection Link provides service in Central Contra Costa County in the cities and towns of Alamo, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.


Service Hours:

Paratransit service is provided during the same hours as the regular fixed route service. Additional hours are provided on behalf of BART.


Eligibility:

In order to be eligible for County Connection LINK service you must reside in Central Contra Costa County. It must be determined that you are eligible for paratransit services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A person can be found to be ADA paratransit eligible for all or for some of their transit trips, based on the individual’s specific condition(s).


Application Required for County Connection Link:

To apply for LINK eligibility, you may come to the LINK office at 2477 Arnold Industrial Way in Concord, download an application, or call (925) 680-2138 to have an application sent to you. Fill out the application as completely as you can, including whether or not you travel with an attendant or a service animal (i.e. guide dog). It’s OK to have someone help you.

After your application is received and reviewed by a health care professional:

  • You may receive a telephone call for additional information.
  • Your application may be sent to the professional you have indicated on your application.
  • And/or: You may be asked to come to the County Connection offices for an in-person interview.

You will be notified by mail of your eligibility status within 21 days of receipt of your completed application.

The guiding principle for ADA paratransit eligibility is the inability to independently use the fixed-route transit due to a disability or a health related condition.

 
Service:

East Bay Paratransit provides service in Western Contra Costa County in the cities and towns of El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Kensington, parts of Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo that are served by AC Transit and BART. Service is limited to areas within 3/4 mile of an operating bus route or BART station. Because East Bay Paratransit also serves people in Alameda County you can schedule trips across county lines with the same operator.


Service Hours:

Service is provided during the hours of AC Transit's bus and BART rail operations.


Eligibility:

In order to be eligible for East Bay Paratransit service you must reside in Western Contra Costa County. It must be determined that you are eligible for paratransit services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A person can be found to be ADA paratransit eligible for all or for some of their transit trips, based on the individual's specific condition(s).


Application required for East Bay Paratransit eligibility:

Bring your completed application with you. The application is available on-line or by calling (800) 555-8085. In some cases your healthcare professional will be contacted for more information.

East Bay Paratransit
 
Service:

Serving the Eastern Contra Costa County cities of Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley, and Pittsburg. Tri-Delta Transit connects you to the places you need to go.

Application:

Registration is required to use Tri Delta Transit's Paratransit services. You can access the application the following ways:

  • Visit Tri Delta Transit administrative office at 801 Wilbur Avenue, Antioch CA
  • Download the application on our website: www.trideltatransit.com
  • Call 925-754-6622 to request an application to be mailed to you.

You must follow the directions and FULLY complete the application form then return it to Tri Delta Transit's administrative offices. Application processing takes approximately 10-14 days.



Service Hours:

Monday - Friday: 3:00 am to 12:00 am*
Saturday: 6:00am - 1:00 am*
Sunday: 7:00 am - 1:00 am*

*ADA Paratransit transportation is available during the same days and hours that Tri Delta Transit's fixed route bus service operates.

Other available Tri Delta Transit Senior Transportation Services:

Senior (Age 65+) Paratransit transportation | non-ADA While not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Tri Delta Transit provides local door-to-door public transportation to individuals who are 65 years of age or older. This transportation is limited to Tri Delta Transit's service area in Eastern Contra Costa County.

Application:

Registration is required to use Tri Delta Transit's Paratransit services. You can access the application using the same methods listed above.

Service Hours:

Monday - Friday: 6:30 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 5:30 pm
Sunday: Service not available


Eligibility:

Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Disabled status is strictly limited to those who have limitations that prevent them from using accessible fixed route transportation. If you are found to be capable of using fixed route bus service, you will not be eligible for ADA paratransit transportation.

Tri Delta Paratransit
 
Service:

WestCAT provides service in the cities and towns of Crockett, Hercules, Pinole, Rodeo, and in the unincorporated communities of Bayview, Montalvin Manor, and Tara Hills.

Application:

Registration is required to use WestCAT Paratransit


Service Hours:

  • Monday-Friday:
  • 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
  • Saturdays:
  • 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
  • Sundays:
  • *Service is provided by East Bay Paratransit.

WestCAT coordinates with East Bay Paratransit to provide Early Morning, Late Night, and Sunday ADA paratransit service as follows:

  • Monday-Friday:
  • Early: 4:44 am - 6:00 am
    Late: 8:00 pm - 12:14 am
  • Saturday:
  • Early: 5:50 am - 9:00 am
    Late: 7:00 pm - 11:03 pm
  • Sunday:
  • *7:10 am - 10:04 pm

Eligibility:

This type of door-to-door public transportation service is provided following the requirements and regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Requirements for complementary paratransit do not apply to commuter bus service. Several factors must be considered in determining ADA paratransit eligibility. These include:

  • Individual disability.
  • Limited accessibility of the fixed route system.
  • Environmental & architectural barriers.
Senior Dial-a-Ride:

Senior Dial-a-Ride is a shared ride curb-to-curb transporation service (provided in vans and sedans) that is provided to seniors age 65 and older. Please note, if you have a disability you will be provided an ADA Paratransit application.


Application Required for WestCAT Paratransit:

To register for WestCAT Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit service, contact us at (510) 724-6320 to have application materials sent to you, or you may pick up an application at our administrative office, located at 601 Walter Avenue, Pinole, CA, 94564.  You can also download the application at www.westcat.org/dialaride. Help is also available in filling out the certification application if you need it. Just give us a call at (510) 724-6320 or for TTY/TDD 1-800-735-2922, and we will assist you. Once WestCAT receives your completed application, you will be notified by mail of your eligibility status within 21 days. If, by a date 21 days following the submission of a completed application, WestCAT has not made a determination of eligibility, the applicant shall be treated as eligible and provided service until and unless WestCAT denies the application.




What is ADA Paratransit?

ADA paratransit is a service that was mandated by the federal government when the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990. It requires transit agencies to make this service available to people who are unable to ride public transit some or all of the time due to a disability. It operates in the same areas as regular public transit, but offers curb to curb service instead of service from bus stops. Riders are required to make reservations in advance. The pickup time can vary by up to one hour from the time that is requested.

The vehicles are shared ride vehicles. The passenger is typically picked up at their door or on the curb and transported to their destination. Because the vehicle is shared with other passengers, it may make stops on the way to your destination to pick up or drop off other passengers. The driver will not enter your home to pick you up or take you inside the building at your destination. If you need additional assistance in these areas, you may bring a personal assistant to help you to the vehicle and into the building at your destination.




Who is eligible for ADA Paratransit?

You could be eligible for ADA paratransit if you have a disability that prevents you from boarding, riding, or getting off of a bus or train some or all of the time without the help of someone else.
OR
You could also be eligible if your disability prevents you from getting to or from a bus or train stop some or all of the time. This could be either from your home or to your destination.




How do I apply?

Contact your local paratransit provider for an application. After you submit your application to your provider you may be asked for additional information, including information from a healthcare professional. You might be asked to come in for an in-person evaluation of your ability to ride public transportation.

Within 21 days of receiving your fully completed application or completing your in-person evaluation, you will receive a letter from your provider regarding your eligibility. Should you not receive a letter within 21 days, you will automatically be given temporary eligibility to use paratransit until a final decision is made.

The paratransit provider will generally determine that you are in one of four eligibility categories: Fully eligible, temporarily eligible, conditionally eligible, or ineligible to use paratransit.

Fully eligible: You may take ADA paratransit trips at any time the service is available.

Temporarily eligible: You are given eligibility for the period of time your disability is expected to prevent you from using public transit.

Conditionally eligible: You may take ADA paratransit for some trips but be required to use regular transit for others, depending on whether certain disabling or environmental conditions affect the trip in question.

Denied: The paratransit agency has determined that you are able to use public transit and therefore are ineligible for paratransit. Should this occur and you disagree with the finding, you may appeal the decision. Instructions on how to appeal are on the application form.




How can I access destinations outside of my area or county?

Contra Costa County has four public ADA paratransit operators; County Connection Link, East Bay Paratransit, Tri Delta Paratransit, and WestCAT Paratransit. A rider will generally only use the provider for the area they live in; however longer distance trips can be arranged with their local provider to make connections with another ADA provider outside of their local area. You should contact your local ADA provider three to five days in advance of a scheduled regional connection trip.




What if I take the same trip every week or month?

You should contact your local paratransit operator to inquire about setting up a subscription trip, sometimes called a standing order. Your provider will tell you what steps you have to take and if a subscription spot is available.