UTA's Paratransit Service ADA program is a service of the Utah Transit Authority, for people with physical, cognitive or visual disabilities who are functionally unable to independently use the UTA fixed route bus service either all of the time, temporarily or only under certain circumstances. For more information on the ADA program, see the complete program details below.

Origin-to-Destination / Curb-to-Curb Service

UTA provides complementary paratransit service as origin-to-destination service. UTA’s base level of service is curb-to-curb service. For curb-to-curb service, customers are responsible for getting to and from the curb at the pick-up and drop-off locations by themselves. Riders must be ready to ride during the 30-minute ready to ride time and must board the bus within 5 minutes of the bus arrival.

Beyond-the-Curb Service

Beyond-the-curb service is available for customers who, without such assistance, are unable to access paratransit service. Beyond-the-curb service means assistance from the vehicle to the first exterior door at the rider’s pick up and/or drop off location. Please be aware, this type of service may not always be feasible or safe to provide. As a result, requests should be made ahead of time to allow UTA to assess any safety risks that would prevent its drivers from providing beyond-the-curb service. However, same day requests may be granted by the driver on a case-by-case basis.

For beyond-the-curb service, riders must be ready to ride during the 30-minute ready to ride time, board the bus within 5 minutes of the bus arrival, and meet the following conditions:

• The outermost exterior door must be no more than 100 feet from the vehicle.
• The driver must be able to maintain sight of the vehicle at all times.
• There must be a direct accessible path and safe access from the vehicle to the door.
• There must be safe parking on a public roadway or public parking lot.
• The parked vehicle must not block or impede traffic.
• Passengers in manual wheelchairs whose combined weight with a device exceeds 368 pounds must meet the bus at the curbside.

If any of these conditions are not met, the location is considered non-serviceable for beyond-the-curb service. At such locations, the driver will provide curb-to-curb service at the requested location, and customers will be expected to meet the driver at the curb.

If a driver is at a location that is non-serviceable for beyond-the-curb service, the driver will contact the Call Center to report to the dispatcher the reason beyond-the-curb service cannot be provided. Dispatch will attempt to contact the customer. Upon doing so, the customer will be advised of the situation and asked to meet the vehicle at the curb.

Reasonable Service Modification

In accordance with guidelines provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is UTA’s policy to provide reasonable service modifications when requested to do so by individuals with disabilities who, without such modification, would not be able to fully use UTA services, programs, or activities for their intended purpose. Requests for modifications are considered on a case-by-case basis and can be denied for one or more of the following reasons:

• Granting the request would fundamentally alter the nature of UTA’s service, programs, or activities;
• Granting the request could create a direct threat to the health or safety of others;
• Granting the request is not necessary in order for the requesting individual to access UTA’s service; or
• Granting the request would create an undue financial or administrative burden for UTA.

Reasonable Service Modification Forms

UTA's Paratransit Reasonable Modification Statement
UTA's Paratransit Service Reasonable Modification Request Form

Paratransit Contact Info

• UTA Paratransit Service in Salt Lake and Davis Counties (801) 287-7433
• UTA Paratransit Service for all other counties: 1-877-882-7272
• T.D.D. Relay 711 (see note below)
• UTA Mobility Center: (801) 287-2263
• No Show Policy Effective 6-1-2014
• No Show Letter
• No Show Paratransit 2014 Town Meetings

UTA Paratransit Service ADA Program

INTRODUCTION
UTA's Paratransit Service ADA program is a service of the Utah Transit Authority, for people with physical, cognitive or visual disabilities who are functionally unable to independently use the UTA fixed route bus service either all of the time, temporarily or only under certain circumstances.

100% of the fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service is wheelchair accessible with lift-equipped or low floor buses and trains. In addition, other accommodations such as stop announcements made by drivers and assisting passengers with disabilities make using the fixed route bus service possible for many people with disabilities. People who are able to use the fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service should do so whenever possible.

Disability alone does not determine paratransit eligibility; the decision is based on the applicant's functional ability to use the fixed route bus and is not a medical decision. At the same time, unavailability of fixed route service by itself does not constitute eligibility for a person who could otherwise take the same trip on the bus, were the service available.

EVALUATION PROCEDURE
All persons seeking eligibility for Paratransit Service ADA Program must appear in person and must complete the evaluation process.

The purpose of the evaluation is to determine whether the applicant can ever use the fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service, even after training and, if not, what specific circumstances would create a barrier to the applicant's independent use of the fixed route bus service.

The components of the Paratransit Service mobility evaluation may include verification of disability, the applicant's own assessment of his/her ability to use the fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service, and a functional assessment, if needed. Information provided by a health care professional regarding the applicant's ability to use the bus may also be considered in how a person's disability affects their functional ability to ride fixed route bus and TRAX light rail services.

The application form needs to be completed and brought with the applicant at the time of their interview to be reviewed with the person conducting the interview. The application is designed to gather information from the applicant regarding his/her disability and the applicant's own assessment of his/her environment and functional ability to use the fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service.

FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENTS
The functional assessment is a instrument to help determine whether the applicant has the ability to use the fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service and, if so, under what circumstances. Functional assessments are evaluations used to predict either physical or cognitive ability. They are designed and conducted by independent professionals.

The physical functional assessment consists of boarding and riding an accessible fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service, negotiating various inclines, surfaces, curb, curb-cuts and crossing streets. Skills evaluated include balance, strength, coordination and range of motion. Please dress appropriately for an outdoor assessment.

The Functional Assessment of Cognitive Transit Skills (FACTS) is administered to applicants with cognitive disabilities. FACTS is a validated assessment tool designed to assess the transit skills of a person by using a simulated bus trip. Skills evaluated include bus travel skills, community safety skills and general orientation.

Variables in the environment as well as the applicant's ability to perform the tasks required in using the fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service is considered.

CATEGORIES OF ELIGIBILITY
People who are determined to be eligible for Paratransit Service are assigned an eligibility category that is consistent with their ability to use the fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service. Categories are:

• Unconditional, if the applicant is determined to be unable to ever independently use the fixed route bus or TRAX service, even with training. A rider might receive unconditional eligibility but could be transported through a "seamless" transfer (the paratransit waits for the fixed route bus) to a fixed route bus.
• Temporary, if the applicant is unable to use the fixed route bus or TRAX service for a limited period of time.
• Conditional, if the applicant can use the fixed route bus or TRAX service sometimes, but may require Paratransit Service in special circumstances when the interaction of the individual's disability and the environment or a special circumstance creates a barrier for safe, independent use of the fixed route bus or TRAX service for a particular trip.
• Examples of conditional eligibility include people with extreme fatigue after dialysis, or a bus stop which requires a person who is blind to negotiate a dangerous pedestrian area, like a large open parking lot with no reference points.

APPOINTMENTS
Appointments are required for a mobility evaluation. Call the Paratransit Evaluation Center at 287-2263 or our toll free number is 1-877-882-7272 if you live outside the Salt Lake area. You may call Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Upon request, complimentary transportation is provided.

Appointments are confirmed in writing including the date, time and location of the evaluation and any additional documentation that may be required.

After you have completed the application process we will notify you of your determination status and/or eligibility in writing within 21 days. If your eligibility is not determined within 21 days, you may be entitled to receive presumptive eligibility and will be allowed to use ADA Paratransit until your eligibility determination is complete.

APPEAL PROCESS
Applicants who are determined not eligible or who do not agree with the conditions established for their use of the Paratransit Service may file an appeal within sixty (60) days of the date the initial eligibility determination was received. Additional information regarding the Appeal Process is available upon request through UTA's ADA Compliance Officer via email adacompliance@rideuta.com; or by calling at 801-287-3536.

Visitor Eligibility & Travel

Persons with disabilities visiting from outside the UTA’s jurisdiction area may establish eligibility for visitor status.

You may do this by the following: provide copy of current paratransit eligibility, or proof of residence, and written information of disability, or if the visitor appears in person and they are unable to If their disability is apparent, visitor status would be granted. If their disability is not apparent the UTA will ask the visitor to sign a certification document that states that they are unable to use fixed-route transit. Visitors will be eligible for up to 21 days of service, per 365-day period. If the visitor requires more than 21 days of service, they will need to apply for UTA’s, ADA Paratransit service in the same fashion as a resident.