VTA paratransit event celebrates connection and progress

The Valley Transportation Authority’s ACCESS Paratransit team hosted a community event bringing together riders, advocates, staff, and community partners to celebrate recent enhancements to paratransit services, gather ideas for the future, and honor the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

VTA's ACCESS Paratransit service is provided to eligible individuals with disabilities who cannot use conventional accessible bus and light rail transit service due to their physical, visual or cognitive disabilities.

Paratransit is shared ride public transportation, complementary to fixed route transit service. This means paratransit operates within the same service area and service times as VTA bus and light rail service. Customers can expect multiple pickups and drop offs along their trips, just like a bus.

The event last month at Emma Prusch Farm Park in San Jose featured talks from speakers who shared updates on key ACCESS initiatives:

• San Jose Vice Mayor and VTA Board Member Pam Foley, also an ex-officio member of the Committee for Transportation Mobility & Accessibility (CTMA), highlighted the Mobility Assistance Program (MAP). Launched in September 2023, MAP provides eligible low-income individuals with options like monthly gas cards, free bus passes, or paratransit fare credits. Partnering with six community organizations, MAP has distributed 1,005 transit vouchers, 817 gas cards, and 167 paratransit fare credits. She also shared details about the Mystery Rider Program, which invites ACCESS riders to provide anonymous feedback about their trips to improve service quality.
• CTMA 2nd Vice Chair Lupe Medrano, a regular ACCESS rider, spoke about the Ride with Respect and Kindness Campaign. To illustrate the message of mutual respect, she shared a meaningful breakdown of the word, tying each letter to values like empathy and compassion, inspiring riders and staff to create a welcoming environment.
• VTA Deputy General Manager Greg Richardson announced advancements in fleet upgrades. Last year, 14 ProMaster vehicles were released into service, and based on feedback from a rider survey that guided improvements to the upcoming ProMaster procurement, including wide seats, easier-to-use ramp, and supportive grab rails. These enhanced vehicles were showcased at the event to gather further feedback. He also announced that 30 new hybrid minivans will be added to the fleet by year’s end, further modernizing paratransit services.
• VTA Deputy Director of Operations Development Lisa Vickery discussed the transition to VTA’s new paratransit operations contractor, Transdev. She highlighted enhanced driver training focused on accessibility, safety, and customer service, as well as the retention of current drivers to ensure continuity. She also reiterated VTA’s commitment to transparency through initiatives like the Mystery Ride Program and expanded survey outreach.
• Carmen Alba, Senior Vice President for the Northwest region of Transdev, along with Chris Langmayer, Transdev General Manager for VTA ACCESS, shared their commitment to elevating paratransit services, prioritizing rider satisfaction and accessibility.

MTC and VTA are transportation partners.