By Richard Smith
Independent Newsmedia

Those who use Dial-A-Ride will want to forget virtually everything they know about the service in a couple months, including the name.

The contract between Valley Metro and Total Transit (parent company of Discount Cab) ends June 30. Starting July 1 the service will no longer be called Dial-A-Ride.

Instead the program will be called Paratransit. Valley Metro will still oversee it and is partnering with Transdev and MJM Innovations and will offer three service options to riders — a regular bus to and from the senior center, a shared ride service for seniors and ADA certified riders and optimal for longer trips, as well as a ride choice taxi service.

“That Paratransit shared ride service is offered anywhere in Maricopa County within 3/4 of a mile of bus service, which is almost anywhere in the Phoenix metro area. The ride choice is kind of exciting and you will be able to see some of the advantages for residents. Reserving your trips in advance is no longer going to be necessary. Same day service is available,” Surprise Public Works director Mike Gent said during a presentation at the April 18 City Council work session.

The new setup will allow for more trips. Surprise budgeted for 42,200 trips in fiscal year 2017 and can set aside funds for 45,000 trips in FY 2018.

The city estimates residents will make 37,200 DIal-A-Ride trips in fiscal year 2017, as opposed to the average of 31,000 trips provided in the city from 2013-2016.

Surprise and Transdev will collaborate on a route for the new Senior Center bus service. This weekday service would start with 8,000 budgeted trips for a $2 trip.

David Kohlbeck, business manager for Surprise public works, said this service can help eliminate congestion and confusion at the senior center when residents leave to get in cabs.

“A number of residents have been complaining that this service is not available in recent years. We’re excited to work with Valley Metro on this service, which is unique to Surprise,” Mr. Kohlbeck said.

Transdev will provide the Paratransit shared ride service, featuring new vehicles with distinct markings with the Valley Metro logo. There is also a subcontract with AAA Cab for light early morning or late hours, or when there is too much demand.

ADA-certified riders, seniors and low income riders can use this service in the Northwest Valley service area, while only those with ADA certification can use it throughout the county.

Regional fares will remain $4 for one-way trip and 10,000 rides are available.

Mr. Kohlbeck said the ride choice taxi service is the most similar to the currrent Dial-A-Ride setup. Valley Metro will contact with MJm Innovations



“They’ve been operating this ride choice option through out the East Valley since 2010 so they’re very experienced. We expect a very smooth transition as we go away from Total Transit,” Mr. Kohlbeck said.
MJM works with both AAA and Discount Cab, as well as four smaller providers, so residents who like their current Discount Cab driver can still sign up under the new service and keep their driver.

Customers can pay cash, credit card or preload their portion onto their card. Every rider will receive up to 16 trips per month when they pay, though additional trips can be added later.

Surprise is budgeting 27,000 trips for the ride choice model.

This service will cost a bit more than the rides in previous years, which were $2 in city limits and $2.50 to other Northwest Valley cities. Customers will now pay $3, with Surprise covering up to the next $18 of a $21 trip.

Riders would have to pick up some costs of a longer trip. For example, an eight-mile trip costs $23.05, The rider would end up paying $5.05 total — the first $3 and the $2.05 that is above the $21 total.

“The ride choice service option will certainly be the one that we expect to have the greatest amount of trips. The minimum cost per trip is $10 for even a one-mile, with the city paying $7,” Mr. Gent said. “Most of the trips we’ve experienced in the last year are seven miles or less.”

All registered Dial-A-Ride users will be contacted prior to the changeover and have the option to sign up to the new service.

Surprise is spending $825,000 on the service and received $108,000 in grant money for a total budget of $932,000.

In addition to more flexibility, Surprise riders will benefit from greater Valley Metro control of this setup. Seventy percent of the vehicles will be manned by employees, who will be directed to make trips to the entire service area.

“We need to be able to assure ourselves of trips out in the edges of our service area, which are hard to do with taxis because taxis don’t like to drive really long distances for really short trips,” said Ron Brooks, Valley Metro manager of accessible transit services, “The old model was with independent contractors. They never had to take a trip they didn’t want and that had a disproportionate effect on communities like Surprise.”

Mr. Brooks said Valley Metro will present the changes to about 50 Valley agencies in May meetings. Follow ups are planned in June, with information pamphlets for regional changes and programs in each specific city.
And, as Mr. Gent mentioned, the need to educate residents will not end when Paratransit is in operation July 1.

“In all of this, I’m really concerned about how we’re going to communicate this,” Councilman Skip Hall said. “It’s going to be a challenge to have this digested by our residents.”