Countywide : New Transit Fares, Rules for Disabled

The Orange County Transportation Authority has approved new fares and tougher eligibility rules that cover its van service for the disabled.

But officials have vowed to help confused passengers understand the changes.

The moves come as part of OCTA’s plan to fully comply by 1995 with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the 1990 civil rights law that requires agencies to provide bus service to the disabled that is equal to the service offered everyone else.

Though many riders believe that complying with the act will bring a vastly improved transit system, some disabled people have expressed concern over the act’s eligibility criteria, which they fear will prevent some from continuing to use the van service.

Until now, the county allowed anyone with a disability to use the vans.

But under the act’s rules adopted Monday by OCTA’s Board of Directors, only people whose disability prevents them from using regular transit buses are eligible for the van service.

It will be up to social service agencies throughout the Orange County to determine which of the nearly 7,000 current van riders will remain eligible. Anyone ruled ineligible can appeal the decision to a review board, which will take into account each rider’s individual situation.

Several people at Monday’s meeting spoke about the fear and uncertainty felt by some van riders.

“I know a woman who is in tears because she might not be able to use (the vans) anymore,” said Noreen Price, an Irvine woman who uses a wheelchair. “This transition (toward ADA compliance) makes it harder for the disabled. The ADA was not designed to make it harder.”

Santa Ana Mayor Daniel H. Young, who sits on the board of directors, expressed concern that some of the people ruled ineligible for van service might simply stop using public transportation and become “even more homebound.”

OCTA directors indicated that the county will strive to provide a level of service beyond the ADA requirements.

“Our job is not simply to comply with the law but to find what the actual need is and to (know) who is left out,” Director Gary L. Hausdorfer said. Under the new fare structure, passengers who use the Access ADA van service will pay $1.50 per trip. For trips scheduled for groups of disabled people or frail seniors, the charge will be $1 per passenger every five miles.