Who can get certified for special transit service

(a) Any person desiring a certification to use the special transit service shall first file an application on forms furnished by the department, or by any entity authorized by the department. The application may 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 city bus system. (b) 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; § 37.123 to use the special transit service. Such certification must be made by either the department or by any entity it so authorizes. The applicant shall participate in an in-person ADA paratransit eligibility assessment as required by the department or the authorized entity. (c) Persons accompanying an ADA paratransit eligible individual must be registered in advance with the transit management services contractor and must be provided service as follows. (1) 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. (2) A family member or friend will be regarded as a person accompanying the ADA paratransit eligible individual, unless the family member or friend is acting in the capacity of a personal care attendant. (3) Additional persons accompanying the ADA paratransit eligible individual must be provided service; provided that space is available for them on 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. (4) To be considered as “accompanying” the eligible person for purposes of this subsection, the other persons must have the same origin and destination as the ADA paratransit eligible individual. )