Meeting_Body
FINANCE, BUDGET AND AUDIT COMMITTEE
MARCH 15, 2023
Subject
SUBJECT: ACCESS SERVICES - QUARTERLY UPDATE
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE status report on Access Services - ADA Paratransit.
Issue
ISSUE
This is a quarterly update on Access Services (Access).
Background
BACKGROUND
Access is the Los Angeles County transit agency that provides paratransit services on behalf of Metro and 45 other fixed route operators, as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Eligibility for Access is based on a person's ability to utilize accessible fixed-route buses and trains in Los Angeles County; Access currently has 104,000 registered riders. Access' paratransit service is a next-day, shared-ride, curb-to-curb service with additional assistance available to qualified individuals. The service is operated by six contractors in the following regions: Eastern, Southern, West Central, Northern, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valley. Access provides service to customers traveling between locations within 3/4 of a mile of local bus routes and rail lines. Customers call Access service providers directly to make trip reservations or can book trips online.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Service Restoration
* Qualified drivers/key personnel: Labor shortages continue to ease due to increased wages and social media marketing efforts, which have brought in 8 new hires in the last few months. In December 2022, Access' contractors added 87 new drivers (56 employee drivers, 23 taxi drivers, and 8 drivers from SilverRide, a new Transportation Network Company (TNC) service specializing in seniors' trips. At the end of December 2022, Access had 1,493 certified drivers, which was 81 drivers short of the target.
* Continuing shortages of taxi subcontractor capacity: Access continues to face challenges with taxicab shortages, with only 32 percent of Access' trips currently being serviced by taxicabs compared ...
Click here for full text