transportation of the additional individuals will not result in a denial of service to ADA paratransit eligible individuals;

On Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 9:52 AM Jackie Taitano <jacqueline.taitano> wrote:

Hafa Adai Mr. Hackett,

per our telephone discussion regarding PCA’s:

FTA Circular 4710.1 Ch. 9.8 Personal Care Attendants and Companions

Requirement

“Individuals accompanying an ADA paratransit eligible individual shall be provided service as follows:
(1)
One other individual accompanying the ADA paratransit eligible individual shall be provided service—
(i)
If the ADA paratransit eligible individual is traveling with a personal care attendant, the entity shall provide service to one other individual in addition to the attendant who is accompanying the eligible individual;
(ii)
A family member or friend is regarded as a person accompanying the eligible individual, and not as a personal care attendant, unless the family member or friend registered is acting in the capacity of a personal care attendant;
(2)
Additional individuals accompanying the ADA paratransit eligible individual shall 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 individuals will not result in a denial of service to ADA paratransit eligible individuals;
(3)
In order to be considered as ‘accompanying’ the eligible individual for purposes of this paragraph (f), the other individual(s) shall have the same origin and destination as the eligible individual” (§ 37.123(f)).
“In applications for ADA paratransit eligibility, the entity may require the applicant to indicate whether or not he or she travels with a personal care attendant” (§ 37.125(i)).
Discussion
A personal care attendant (PCA), as explained in Appendix D to § 37.121, is “someone designated or employed specifically to help the eligible individual meet his or her personal needs.” 6 A PCA typically assists with one or more daily life activities such as providing personal care, performing manual tasks, or providing assistance with mobility or communication. PCA assistance is not always needed during a complementary paratransit trip itself; because of the nature of typical PCA functions, it is most likely the services provided by a PCA would be required throughout the day at the passenger’s destination.
PCAs are sometimes family members or friends. In some instances, PCAs are other individuals with a disability. This might be an individual with a physical disability who assists someone with a vision disability or who accompanies an individual with an intellectual disability who cannot travel independently.
Section 37.123(f)(1) grants complementary paratransit riders the right to be accompanied by “at least one” companion. Section 37.123(f)(2) obligates transit agencies to accommodate additional companions if space is available, meaning that they do not displace other eligible riders. Such companions can be a spouse, a child, a coworker, a friend, or anyone else traveling with riders.
PCAs differ from companions. While both accompany riders with disabilities, PCAs also assist riders with a daily life activity. Appendix D to § 37.123 notes, “a companion (e.g., friend or family member) does not count as a personal care attendant unless the eligible individual regularly makes use of a personal care attendant and the companion is actually acting in that capacity.”
6

On Tue, Mar 9, 2021 at 2:03 PM Ray Hackett <3659745> wrote:

4th pca must br on the whole rie? Absurd! Why?

On Tue, Mar 9, 2021, 4:49 AM Ray Hackett <3659745> wrote:

The biggest problems passengers face has a simple solution. With all the different bus lines most Riders have to make multiple connections, so when a bus goes down or it’s late multiple Riders day is ruined. but if all lines were combined into one line this problem would be solved