Getting certified to use paratransit service

Any person desiring a certification to use the paratransit service shall first file an application on forms furnished by the Agency. The application shall include a certification by the applicant's health care professional that the applicant has a physical or mental disability that precludes the applicant from using the County bus fixed route mainline and shuttle system.An applicant must be certified to be paratransit eligible according to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA); 49 CFR, Part 37, Subpart F, Section 37.123 to use the paratransit service. Such certification shall be made by either the Agency or by any person it so authorizes.Each certified passenger shall be issued a paratransit eligibility Identification Card, without charge, specifically endorsed for the paratransit service by the Agency or its designated representative.Such paratransit eligibility Identification Card shall be shown at boarding to bus personnel and each certified passenger shall pay the fare established in Section 1 7A-1.2 of this Chapter. Nonpayment of a fare shall result in boarding being denied.The paratransit eligibility Identification Card may be effective for a period determined by the Agency to begin from the approval of the application for eligibility. It may be renewed thereafter up to sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date of the prior term; provided the person requesting such renewal demonstrates at each renewal date that such applicant's mental or physical condition warrants continued status as ADA paratransit eligible whose disabling condition prevents the applicant from using the county fixed/mainline and shuttle bus system. Should a person's temporary inability to use the County bus system continue beyond a temporary disability period, the person must reapply.A paratransit eligibility Identification Card may be recalled from time to time at the discretion of the Agency for recertification or statistical purpose. The Agency may extend the effective date of the paratransit eligibility Identification Card when the paratransit eligibility Identification Card is recalled for recertification or statistical purpose to reduce large fluctuations in paratransit eligibility Identification Card renewals in future years. Paratransit eligibility Identification Cards issued after a recall may have physical characteristics different from those issued before the recall.Persons accompanying an ADA paratransit eligible individual shall be provided service as follows:One other person in addition to the personal care attendant accompanying the ADA paratransit eligible individual may be provided service if the ADA paratransit eligible individual is traveling with a personal care attendant.A family member or friend shall be regarded as a person accompanying the ADA paratransit eligible individual and shall pay applicable fare in accordance to Section 17A-l.2, unless the family member or friend is acting in the capacity of a personal care attendant.Additional persons accompanying the ADA paratransit eligible individual shall be provided service; provided that space is available for them in the paratransit vehicle carrying the ADA paratransit eligible individual and that transportation of the additional persons will not result in a denial of service to ADA paratransit eligible persons.In order to be considered as "accompanying" the eligible person for purposes of this Subsection, the other person(s) shall have the same origin and destination as the ADA paratransit eligible individual.