Rural Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Program
Shared Ride Transportation For Persons with Disabilities

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS NEW PROGRAM?

People with disabilities and their advocates in cooperation with Penn DOT hope to develop a statewide program that provides affordable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities in all the rural areas of Pennsylvania. The purpose of this new program is to study how transportation for people with disabilities will work and whether people will actually use the service. This program is in operation in 35 counties within Pennsylvania. The goal is to secure funding for the expansion of a statewide program.

WHERE AND HOW WILL SERVICE BE PROVIDED?

This transportation service will be provided in Schuylkill County through the Schuylkill Transportation System's Shared Ride Van Program. To use STS Shared Ride transportation, a person must call to schedule a ride the day before the trip is to be made. "Shared Ride" means that the person making a trip must be willing to share the vehicle with other riders making similar trips. The STS Shared Ride program is curb-to-curb service.

WHO CAN USE THIS SERVICE?

Persons with disabilities under 65 years of age who live in areas not served by STS Fixed Route or ADA ParaTransit services may be eligible to use the service. To become eligible you need to apply. You will need to fill out an application form and provide written evidence to STS that you are a person with a disability. Call 800-832-3322 or 570-429-2701 to apply. Application materials may be requested in alternate formats.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO TAKE A TRIP? An eligible person with a proven disability can use the service by paying 15 percent of the cost of the trip based on the current fare structure of the STS shared ride van program.

A co-pay of $1.95 is charged for a one way trip up to ten miles. A co-pay of $2.10 is charged for a one way trip over ten miles. A co-pay of $2.40 is charged for an exclusive trip: all trips requiring an individual van to be dispatched for an individual ride. A co-pay of $3.15 is charged for out-of-county group trips (one way).

The balance of these fares will be paid for by the Pennsylvania Shared Ride lottery program.

WHERE AND WHEN CAN I TRAVEL?

You may travel anywhere within Schuylkill County currently served by the STS Shared Ride Van Program. Trips will be scheduled Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. However, some trip times and destinations may be available solely on a very limited basis. You may need to be flexible in terms of when and where you travel. If a trip is not available when you want it, ask what times are available. Shared Ride service is not like one person taking a taxi. Availability of trips depends on the number of STS vehicles in an area and on other trips that are scheduled.

HOW DO I SCHEDULE A TRIP?

Call STS at 800-832-3322, 570-429-2701 or (TDD) 888-972-2323. You must call prior to 12:00 noon at least one business day before the day you wish to travel. If you want to travel on a Monday, you need to make a reservation the Friday before. You can make reservations up to 14 days in advance. Also, you can make trip reservations on the weekend by using STS telephone answering system. Call STS for more information about placing reservations.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP THIS NEW PROGRAM SUCCEED?

You can use the service and tell others about it! You can help STS by being patient and by working with your STS team to create successes rather than failures. There may be bumps in the road but if we all work together, pull in the same direction and keep our eye on the prize, success will be achieved. If successful this new STS Pilot Program can lead to a statewide program of affordable transportation for people with disabilities. Everybody wins.

Travel tips to remember:

Be ready 15 minutes prior to scheduled pickup time Be courteous — do not smoke, eat or drink on the van Please have exact fare ready All van trips are coordinated on a Shared Ride basis according to pickup and destination areas, appointment times and vehicle availability All times are approximate as they are subject to road, weather and traffic conditions All extra side trips must be scheduled and are subject to the one way fare All reservations must be made 24 hours in advance