This document does not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, or the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. It is intended to serve as an Easy Read version of The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council Transportation Options Research Study.

Publication of this

report is sponsored

by the United States

Department of Health

and Human Services,

the Administration

on Intellectual and

Developmental

Disabilities and the

Florida Developmental

Disabilities Council, Inc.

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS RESEARCH STUDYRECOMMENDATIONS

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WHAT DID WE FIND?

The study revealed 5 different types of transportation needs in Florida. If we can find ways to meet these needs, we will help improve transportation for people with disabilities.

Transportation is very important for health, jobs, and being with other people.

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) conducted a study in 2017.

The study looked for ways to help people with disabilities find good options for transportation.

After the study was completed, the FDDC released PRIMARY (first in importance) and SECONDARY (second in importance) recommendations.

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The 5 different types of transportation needs are listed below, along with PRIMARY recommendations to address them.

Find steady funding from policy makers. • Make it easier to find, receive, and manage funding grants.• Improve communication among policy makers.• Improve cooperation between different transportation agencies.• Work on creating laws to keep transportation costs low.• Increase state, local, and county support of transportation services.

Make transportation services more accessible. • Expand routes.• Increase hours rides are offered.• Make it easier to pay for rides.• Increase the number of riders to show need and acceptance.• Improve cooperation between different transportation agencies.

Make the agencies that provide transportation services stronger.• Use technology and data to support transportation planning.• Look for ways to keep costs low and quality high. • Pay transportation employees more money and offer them good benefits.• Find volunteers to help.• Make communication better and reach out to the community.• Improve rider experiences by giving drivers more support. • Improve the experiences of pedestrians and people waiting at stops.

Help drivers and riders get better at what they do. • Develop rider training programs to help riders feel confident.• Offer training in disabilities to people in other transportation services, like rail and air.• Improve general public knowledge of transportation options for people with disabilities.

Address other accessibility issues.• Improve WiFi access during rides.• Improve technology and create apps to make scheduling easier.• Make taxi, Uber, and Lyft rides more accessible.

More Money

More Routes and Hours

Stronger Agencies

More Driver Training

Additional Issues

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY NEEDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS?

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In addition to the PRIMARY needs and recommendations, the FDDC study came up with many SECONDARY recommendations that will help people with disabilities.

In general, the following would be a great start in improving transportation for people with disabilities.

Family passes will cut down on costs and allow caregivers to easily travel with riders with disabilities.

More warning time before stops will help slower-moving passengers.

Improved technology will create better scheduling.

Family Passes

More Warning

Better Schedules

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“Fixed transit” is transportation that runs along the same route every day, like a city bus. You can decide to take a ride on a fixed transit vehicle if it goes to the place you need to get to and if you can manage the schedule and boarding.

The FDDC study also came up with even more specific ideas for different types of transportation.

FIXED TRANSIT

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Here are some recommendations from the FDDC study to improve fixed transit in Florida for people with disabilities:

Stop announcements and clear signs are very important for people who may require extra time to process, board, and get off or unload.

Bus maintenance and employee equipment training are also important. Fixed transit providers should maintain equipment and train drivers how to use wheelchair lifts.

Fixed transit providers should make space for oversized wheelchairs. They also should check the Americans with Disabilities Act to review vehicle standards. This includes Uber, Lyft, and taxi services.

Florida should work with the federal government to make all rail stations accessible, not just key stations.

More Announcements and Signs

Equipment Maintenance and Training

Space for Oversized Wheelchairs

Fully Accessible Rail

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Who can use paratransit services? Florida needs ways to make fair decisions. Eligibility rules should consider each person’s needs throughout the entire bus or rail system.

• Paratransit agencies should schedule times that work with riders’ appointments or desired arrival times. • Make no changes to the agreed schedule, no matter how small. If a change is needed, it should be no more than one hour from the requested time. • Keep careful records of all rides.• Keep the same driver each day for people who ride regularly to help build a relationship. • Make sure there are plenty of back-up drivers to avoid delays.

Paratransit agencies should reduce phone hold times to 2 minutes.

Review Eligibility

On-Time Performance

End Long Phone Holds

“Paratransit” is for people with disabilities who cannot used fixed transit services. This may be a special bus or a car that takes you where you need to go. There may be people on the ride with you who can help with your needs.

Here are recommendations from the FDDC study to improve paratransit:

PARATRANSIT

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Improve no-show policies and late cancellations. People with disabilities should be helped to keep their scheduled rides.

Offer more door-to-door service and help people between the door and the vehicle if they cannot be served by curb-to-curb service.

Offer travel training and other services to transition paratransit riders to a fixed route.

Pay paratransit drivers and staff the same as fixed rate drivers and staff. If paratransit drivers receive better pay, there will be a more stable and skilled force of drivers.

Provide feeder service and chain trips. Paratransit agencies should help riders transfer between different types of rides. You may need to go to several places in one trip—like to the store and then to a doctor’s appointment. Agencies should make sure there is staff on hand to help you move from one ride to the next.

No-Shows and Late Cancellations

Door-to-Door Service

Travel Training

Equalize Pay

Feeder Service and Chain Trips

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QUESTIONANSWER:

The FDDC study urges disability organizations to work with community leaders to add new ideas to voter ballots. For example, voters could add a half-cent sales tax to help pay for transportation improvements for people with disabilities.

How will the recommendations for fixed transit and paratransit be funded?

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Private transportation means you are provided a ride from a person’s car. This could include taxi service or a ride service like Uber or Lyft.

Here are some recommendations to improve private transportation:

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION

Taxi companies and Uber and Lyft drivers should carefully train drivers and staff on the needs of people with disabilities and the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Taxi companies should be sure they have vehicles that are accessible to people with disabilities.

Driver Training

Accessible Taxis

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Many people with disabilities live in rural areas and may not have access to safe, reliable transportation.

The FDDC study recommends that the United States, the State of Florida, and local governments work together to improve transportation for people with disabilities who live in rural areas.

TRANSPORTATION IN RURAL AREAS

CONCLUSION

It is clear that people with disabilities need access to good, reliable transportation.

The FDDC study will continue to develop research, plans, and recommendations to improve all aspects of transportation in our state for people with disabilities.

It is our goal to improve transportation so that people with disabilities can have support in their jobs, in their family lives, and in their connection to their communities.