The Gainesville Regional Transit System advisory board declared at a Wednesday meeting it has canceled its contract with a third-party transportation service for people with disabilities. Instead, RTS will use its own new app to facilitate access.
MV Paratransit Service is an international accessible transportation provider known for its door-to-door van service for disabled residents. The company has partnered with RTS for over two decades.
RTS decided to cut ties last year because of city budget constraints, said Thomas Idoyaga, RTS transit outreach and communication director.
MV’s contract required a 30-day notice before termination, and RTS will officially assume its responsibilities March 1. As part of its onboarding process, RTS has developed an app for users to schedule rides up to two weeks in advance.
“This makes it easier for the user,” Idoyaga said. “Instead of a phone call, they could schedule a ride with an app. … We’re just giving them options.”
The app is designed to be more convenient for users, Idoyaga added. While the calling service requires trips be scheduled no later than 5 p.m. the day prior, reservations on the new app can be made the same day.
Bus drivers have been training for two weeks to prepare for the in-house move, he said. Drivers have traveled to all stops within the van zone, including hospitals, to ensure the vans fit on the road, and they’ve been taught all the ADA requirements and Florida Department of Transportation safety protocols.
The transit system has a list of about 10,000 residents who are eligible for ADA services, Idoyaga said, and it will soon send emails to inform them of the change and the new system’s protocols.
The Center for Independent Living, a disability services organization that helps issue ADA eligibility, will also relay the news to qualifying passengers, he added. Doctors, firefighters and police officers will be provided a desktop version of the app to schedule rides for patients.
The app is now available for download, and scheduling will open Feb. 14. For now, paratransit employees are continuing their mock runs, and the board anticipates the biggest challenge will be getting users accustomed to the change.
Contact Maria Arruda at marruda@alligator.org. Follow her on X at @mariazalfarruda.
Maria Arruda is a second-year journalism and political science student, currently working as the City Commission reporter for The Alligator. Previously, she reported on Student Government under The Alligator's University desk. She enjoys running, reading and going to movie theaters!
