ADA vs. Regular Transportation Services

Who is eligible?

ADA Regular (Non-ADA) Service
Anyone who applies and meets the ADA eligibility criteria is eligible.
 Any Shrewsbury residents 60 or older and any disabled Shrewsbury residents, regardless of age, are eligible.

Service Area

*Please note Westborough is not within the ADA service area, however, ADA riders may go there under the Non-ADA guidelines.
ADA Service
 Regular (Non-ADA) Service
The ADA service area is anywhere in Worcester and also anywhere within 3/4-mile corridors that surround the WRTA bus routes in the city*.
 The regular service area includes Shrewsbury, Worcester, Northborough, Westborough* and other towns for special group trips.

Trips You Can Request

ADA Service
 Regular (Non-ADA) Service
You can request any trip, for any purpose, within the ADA service area.
 You can request any trip, for any purpose, within Shrewsbury, Worcester, Northborough or Westborough. However, special attention is given to trips for medical appointments or other trips that can be grouped together. Scheduled Council on Aging trips (to the grocery store

Travel Times

ADA Service
 Regular (Non-ADA) Service
You may travel during the same days/house that the associated bus route(s) run.
 You may travel Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the scheduled runs. Trips outside the Center's work hours may be brokered out to a third-party service like Yellow Cab.

Trip Scheduling

ADA Service
 Regular (Non-ADA) Service
Trip times can be negotiated up to 1 hour before or 1 hour after the requested time without making the rider late for appointments. ADA trips are prioritized over non-ADA trips. Return trips must be pre-scheduled. There is a no-show policy in place.
 Trips must be scheduled within the time frames associated with each run. Non-ADA trips can be bumped by ADA trips. Return trips must be pre-scheduled. There is a no-show policy in place.

When Appointments Don't Fit on Schedule

ADA Service
 Regular (Non-ADA) Service
If an appointment doesn't fit on the schedule, the trip is brokered to another service provider, if one is available.
 If ambulatory, a volunteer is sought, if available. If a lift is required for boarding, AVCOA will be used, if available.

Time Frame for Scheduling Trips

ADA Service
 Regular (Non-ADA) Service
Trips may be scheduled as late as 4:30 p.m. the day before the trip and as early as 30 days in advance.
 You must call no later than 10 a.m. two business days before your desired trip and no earlier than 30 days in advance.

Driver Assistance Policy

ADA Service
 Regular (Non-ADA) Service
Assistance is available from the curb of origin.
 Assistance is available from the curb of origin to the curb of destination to first outside step of destination.

Inclement Weather

ADA Service
 Regular (Non-ADA) Service
If the trip was with a Council on Aging van, the van must be off the road during inclement weather. If the trip had been brokered out, it will be up to the provider if they can still do the trip. Special circumstances may apply if more than 1 provider is involved in the trip.
 If Shrewsbury schools are closed, the van is required to be off the road. If a volunteer was scheduled, the volunteer will decide if he/she wants to provide the trip.

Travel Guests/Fares

ADA Service
 Regular (Non-ADA) Service
A personal care attendant (PCA) may accompany you if you cannot travel without help. The PCA's ride is free. Space is guaranteed for one companion. Additional companions may accompany you if space is available. Companions pay the same as the ADA rider. PCAs and companions must have the same origin and destination as the ADA rider.
 A spouse or someone else may accompany you if need help. The person would pay the same fare as you. The person must get picked up and dropped off at the same locations as you.