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.

Information About ADA View ADA Providers

Information About ADA

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.

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.
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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.

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.

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.

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.