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INTRODUCTION

The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority (GBTA) is the designated recipient of State funding to provide paratransit transportation services to disabled individuals that meet the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. This special service is known as GBTAccess. The ADA and its regulations require that the GBTA provide paratransit or other special service to individuals with disabilities that is comparable to the level of service provided to individuals without disabilities who use GBTA's general public bus service.

Representative of all participating areas is the Paratransit Advisory Committee. This Committee meets on an as needed basis serving as an advocate for your needs. GBTAccess serves individual transit needs that cannot be filled by conventional transit services and promotes equality of mobility for all.

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WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), paratransit service must be provided to "ADA Paratransit Eligible" individuals who meet the eligibility criteria of Section 37.123, "ADA Paratransit Eligibility Standards." Copies of this section may be obtained by calling the GBTA. The GBTA has established this eligibility criteria for all riders.

The service is designed for riders who, because of their disability, are not able to get to a bus stop, board or ride the fixed route service.

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SERVICE AREA

ADA Paratransit Service will be provided to qualified individuals who have both trip origins and destinations within a 3/4 mile radius of an operating GBTA public bus route. Service outside of this 3/4 mile area is not provided.

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SERVICE DAYS AND HOURS

ADA Service days and hours are determined by the fixed-route bus that is operating within a 3/4 mile radius of your origin and destination on the day and time of travel. Service is potentially available 365 days a year. Telephone reservationists will be able to assist you in determining if your ride is eligible.

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HOLIDAYS

Holiday schedules are operated on the fixed-route buses as listed below. Expect reductions in hours of operation and service area that also apply to GBTAccess. New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day,Christmas Day All other holidays will be the same service hours as the day of the week that the holiday falls on.

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TRIP PURPOSES

Shopping, Work, Personal Business, Medical, Education, Leisure and Recreation. GBTAccess does not impose priorities or restrictions based on trip purpose.

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FARES - PREPAID TICKET OR CASH

The one-way fare is $3.00 and may be paid in cash or prepaid ticket. Books of ten one-way trip tickets may be purchased for $30.00. Individual tickets are not available for sale. Checks and money orders are to be made payable to GBTA and sent to GBTAccess, 1 Cross Street, Bridgeport, CT 06610, Attention: Accounting Department. You must enclose a self-addressed postage paid envelope so that we can mail you your purchased tickets. All ticket purchases are non-replaceable and nonrefundable. Please include your name on the check and send along a self addressed postage-paid envelope.

• The fare (cash or ticket) shall be paid directly to the Driver.

• No change will be provided. Exact currency is required.

• The fare must be presented with a GBTAccess identification card.

• Escorts are required to pay a fare (cash or ticket.)

• If you are certified to travel with a personal care attendant (PCA), (shown on your card.), the PCA does not pay a fare.

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RESERVATIONS

Reservations for ADA service are received daily, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Reservations can be made as early as 5 days in advance of your travel date, but no later than 4:30 p.m. the day prior to your travel date.

The phone number to call for making reservations is 203-579-7777.

The hearing-impaired may call by TDD at 203-579-8754.

WHEN MAKING A RESERVATION

Reservations for outbound trips are made based on the time you need to arrive at your destination. Reservations for inbound or return trips are made based on the time you wish to be picked-up. When making a reservation, please be prepared to give the customer service representative the following information:

1. Time you need to be at or picked-up from your destination.
   
   
2. Your name and card number.
   
   
3. The address and phone number of pickup location.
   
   
4. The name, address & phone number for your destination.
   
   
5. Information about any mobility device you will be traveling with (wheelchair, walker, etc.). Note: GBTAccess will only transport "common wheelchairs" defined as any mobility device that has three or four wheels, operated manually or powered, that does not exceed 30 inches in width, 48 inches in length or 600 pounds when occupied.
   
6. Information about others who will be traveling with you (personal care attendant, escort)
   
   
7. Any special instructions for your driver.
   
   

Please have all correct information on hand when you call to eliminate any unnecessary delays for yourself and fellow riders. If you do not use a wheelchair, but cannot board the vehicle by step, please advise the phone operator. The operator will advise the driver to have a wheelchair on the vehicle to assist you in boarding the vehicle by lift. These wheelchairs are for boarding and alighting purposes only.

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GETTING READY TO GO:

To help us keep on schedule, riders must be ready one hour in advance of the time you have scheduled to arrive at your destination.

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RETURN TRIP:

You must be ready at the time you scheduled for a return ride pickup. Your ride will arrive at that time or within 60 minutes after the scheduled time.

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DRIVER WAIT TIME

In an effort to avoid delaying other riders, your driver will wait a maximum of five (5) minutes for riders on all trips.

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BOARDING THE BUS

All passengers must have their GBTAccess identification card and exact fare or ticket ready to present to the driver when boarding the bus.

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PASSENGER ASSISTANCE

The driver will provide door-to-door assistance if the door of the pickup location and the door of the destination are at ground level. Drivers can not enter the home of a rider at any time or lift a rider in or out of a vehicle.

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SHOPPING

Drivers shall put grocery bags into the vehicles and take them off. They may not carry bags from stores or into homes. A rider must take only as many bags as he/she can handle. Bags may not obstruct aisle walkways or occupy any additional seating.

GBTAccess has several designated pick-up and drop-off location at some of the most common destinations:

Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull (Trumbull Mall) - Door number 2 near JC Penny's.

Hawley Lane Mall - The left main door between Kohl's and Dunkin Donuts.

K-Mart Plaza (Milford) - In front of K-Mart doors only.

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CANCELLATIONS AND NO-SHOWS

In a continuing effort to provide good service for all riders, you are asked to provide at least two hours prior notice when making a cancellation. Cancellations not made in accordance with the above will be treated as a "No-show". Consistent "No-shows" may lead to suspension of your transportation privileges.

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CARD EXPIRATION AND RECERTIFICATION

Please note the expiration date on your card. In most cases, your identification card will expire approximately three years from the date that you receive it. The only exceptions to this rule are persons issued a temporary identification card. In either case, you will receive a recertification form two months prior to the expiration date on your identification card. You must complete the form and comply with all certification requirements in place at the time of recertification to receive a new card. If you do not submit a new form prior to your card's expiration date, you will be removed from our files and we will be unable to continue service to you.

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ESCORTS

On request, one escort shall always be provided service at all times. All escorts must have the same origin and destination as the eligible individual and are required to pay the fare. An unlimited number of escorts are allowed to travel, provided that space is available for them on the GBTAccess vehicle carrying the eligible rider and that transportation of the additional individuals will not result in a denial of service to another eligible rider.

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PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT

A personal care attendant is a necessary part of an eligible individual's mobility. The personal care attendant is distinct from a family member or friend who is just along for the ride to accompany (escort) an eligible individual. Your card indicates if you are eligible to travel with a personal care attendant. Personal care attendants are not required to pay the fare.

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PROHIBITED

Smoking, Eating or Drinking on vehicles is prohibited at all times. For safety, please use seatbelts at all times. If you need assistance, please ask your driver. The Authority reserves the right to suspend service for disruptive behavior.

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SAFETY

For safe riding, passengers must use their seatbelts. If assistance is needed, please inform your driver upon boarding.

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ADDRESS CHANGE

When you have a change of address please be sure to make the appropriate changes by calling both the Reservation Number and the Customer Service Number listed in this brochure.

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CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALL SERVICE RELATED INQUIRIES

All service inquiries and complaints should be directed to the GBTAccess customer service department at 203-366-7070. Hearing impaired may call by TDD at 203-330-0657. Please call us with any problems you may experience or any suggestions you may have regarding GBTAccess. We strongly encourage you to communicate with us as your input assists the GBTA in providing you with the best service possible.

It is also important that you notify the customer service department to report any changes to your personal information (name, address etc.).

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NEWSLETTER

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ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION

All information related to GBTAccess is available in printed Spanish. Additionally, information is available on cassette tape in both English and Spanish. Anyone needing service information in any of these accessible formats should call the Customer Service number listed in this User Guide. If you require information in another format, please contact our customer service department at (203) 366-7070.

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TRANSPORTATION DIRECTORY

GBTAccess INFORMATION:

Applications and Complaints: 366-7070 (extension 103 or 131)
TDD Applications/Complaints: 330-0657
Reservations: 579-7777
TDD Reservations: 579-8754

GREATER BRIDGEPORT TRANSIT AUTHORITY INFORMATION:

Schedules & Information: 333-3031
TDD Schedules & Information: 330-0668
Administrative Offices: 366-7070
TDD Administration Offices: 330-0657

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MINOR POLICY

The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority has the right to prohibit minor passengers under the age of 12 to board buses unescorted by an adult.

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REPLACEMENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS

There is a $10.00 service fee for replacement cards (lost, stolen or destroyed).

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MILFORD, SHELTON & WESTPORT TRANSFER

Transportation is provided to and from the following designated locations in Shelton, Milford and Westport.

Burger King located at 902 Bridgeport Avenue, Shelton.

K-Mart located at 589 Bridgeport Avenue, Milford.

Super Stop and Shop located at 1790 Post Road East, Westport.

Under no circumstances will any other location be considered. To travel beyond the designated locations, each rider is responsible for arranging transportation through the paratransit programs offered by Valley Transit District, Milford Transit District or Norwalk Transit District. Please keep in mind that each transit system has its own eligibility criteria, certification process, rules, fare structure and service hours and days.

For details please contact:

Valley Transit District at 203-735-6824

Milford Transit District at 203-874-4507

Norwalk Transit District at 203-226-7171.

Important points to keep in mind when traveling across town lines.

GBTAccess will accept reservations in accordance with the rules and regulations contained in this User Guide.

Bring your user guide along for reference.

The one hour in advance rule applies to both outbound and return trips on GBTAccess. For advance wait rules for the other transit systems, contact the respective transit systems.

It is each rider's responsibility to make his or her own reservation with the individual participating transit system and to familiarize themselves with their rules of operation.

On your initial outbound trip, you must pay the current fare to the GBTAccess driver and request a free transfer ticket. This ticket must be presented to the driver of the Shelton, Milford or Westport bus.

On your return ride from a connecting system, you must pay the driver their existing fare and request a transfer ticket. This transfer ticket is then presented to the GBTAccess driver for a free ride to your destination.

It is each rider's responsibility to request a transfer ticket. Tickets are only given to riders that transfer at the designated transfer locations and are only valid on the day that they are issued. You must present a transfer ticket to the driver in order to take advantage of the free ride. If you do not have a ticket then you must pay the full fare.

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SPECIAL NOTICE # 1
FIXED-ROUTE TRANSPORTATION FOR HALF PRICE

Your GBTAccess Photo Identification Card entitles you to public bus transportation privileges for half price on the GBTA's public bus routes. These privileges include free transfers within GBTA's transportation system and other transfer options. The rules and fees pertaining to transfers will vary from time to time based on current GBTA policy.

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SPECIAL NOTICE # 2
FREE TRAVEL TRAINING

The public bus system offers a wide range of flexible and cost effective traveling opportunities for everyone. If you never rode a GBTA public bus before and need assistance, individualized instruction from your place of origin to your destination is available.

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