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Fairfax Area Disability Services Board
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Transportation Guide to Northern Virginia To request a searchable Adobe PDF version of the information below, or alternative formats such as large print, please send a message that includes your mailing address and/or e-mail. Note: Each system has different rules and regulations that govern its use. Contact the individual provider for detailed information regarding fare structure, cancellations, additional passengers, waiting time, snow policy, and what to do if the van or cab does not arrive when scheduled. Americans with Disabilities Act Paratransit City and County Operated Paratransit
Where to Purchase Passes and Tokens for Metro Rail and Bus Americans with Disabilities Act Paratransit MetroAccess MetroAccess is a shared ride public transportation service sponsored by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). MetroAccess is the regional paratransit system established to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It provides curb-to-curb service to people who cannot use the bus or rail service. MetroAccess is available from 5:30 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week, and rides can be scheduled for any purpose. MetroAccess provides transportation using a variety of providers and vehicles, including sedans, cabs, minivans, and lift-equipped buses. To be eligible for MetroAccess service, a rider's disability must make her unable to get on or exit any vehicle on the transit system; or the rider needs to use a ramp or wheelchair lift but there is no ramp or lift-equipped vehicle at the time or on the fixed route he would travel; or the rider's disability makes it impossible for her to travel to and from a bus stop or rail station. MetroAccess riders must have an approved ADA application on file that explains and certifies the disability and the need for MetroAccess. Applications can be obtained by calling the "Eligibility" phone number listed above, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The application is also available on the web at www.wmata.com/metroaccess/access_form_pt_a.cfm. The application contains two sections-the potential user (or representative) completes one section and a licensed physician completes the other. Three weeks are required to process the application and determine eligibility. Once MetroAccess processes the completed application form, they will schedule a date and time for a required in-person interview and functional assessment. The potential user will be transported at no cost to an assessment site where a licensed therapist will evaluate the user's functional abilities in using public transit. For example, the rider's ability to walk or travel a measured distance will be determined. Riders who use a mobility aid must bring it to the assessment. MetroAccess also provides service to visitors to the Washington metropolitan area. When visiting the area, persons wishing to use MetroAccess can obtain temporary eligibility by calling 301-562-5360, 1-800-523-7009, or TTY 301-588-7535 and then selecting the eligibility/re-certification option from the menu of services. City and County Operated Paratransit City Wheels (City of Fairfax) Residents of the City of Fairfax who have disabilities and are unable to use the CUE system (City of Fairfax bus system) can use the City Wheels program. City Wheels is an alternative transportation system that utilizes private taxicabs. Persons must apply for eligibility for City Wheels. Riders who require lift-equipped vehicles must use MetroAccess. Once accepted, participants receive a numbered identification card, forms to order and purchase coupons, and a list of transportation companies offering alternative services. Coupons are good for a one-way non-stop trip and can be ordered and paid for in advance. Riders call the taxicab company that can best serve their needs and use the coupons to pay for their trips. Taxicab trips are limited to the City of Fairfax, Vienna/Fairfax Metrorail station, George Mason University, and Fair Oaks Hospital. DOT Program (Alexandria City) The DOT service is curb-to-curb transportation service for residents of Alexandria with mobility impairments. Both taxicab and lift-equipped van service are available for trips throughout Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. DOT service operates 7 days a week, Monday-Friday from 5:30 a.m. to midnight; Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. Trip requests can be made from 24 hours to 2 weeks in advance by calling the DOT reservation number listed above, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week. To apply for the DOT program, an eligibility application must be completed and returned to the Office of Transit Services and Programs (OTS&P). A medical professional is required to complete a portion of the application. Eligibility will be determined by OTS&P, and certification will be mailed to applicants with instruction on how to reserve DOT service. This form is available on the web site ci.alexandria.va.us/tes/ts/dot_paratransit_program.html. FASTRAN FASTRAN service is provided only on weekdays for residents of Fairfax County, with almost all trips scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Eligibility is based on household income, which cannot exceed, for example, $l,683 per month for a family of one and $2,272 per month for a family of two, and riders must be residents of Fairfax County. A rider must be eligible before making reservations Rides should be scheduled well in advance, since trips are scheduled first-come, first-served and are limited. To schedule FASTRAN trips, riders should call weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and noon. If a scheduled trip must be cancelled, riders must call the 24-hour cancellation line and should try to cancel before noon the day before the scheduled trip. The cancellation line is available 24 hours and accepts recorded messages. Callers will be prompted to leave their name, identification number, and the date(s) of the trip(s) to cancel. Fare Wheels (City of Falls Church ) Fare Wheels serves City of Falls Church residents and uses private taxicabs and lift-equipped vehicles to provide rides. Participants must be residents of the City of Falls Church, and at least 62 years of age, or permanently disabled, with annual incomes not exceeding $30,000. An application and proof of disability and income are required to become eligible for service. Once approved, the individual receives 2 coupon books, an identification card and a reorder form. Riders receive a maximum of $35.00 in coupons per month. STAR (Arlington County) STAR is the curb-to-curb trip service for Arlington County residents. If riders are eligible for MetroAccess, they are automatically certified to use STAR, which uses private wheelchair accessible cabs and lift-equipped vans. STAR accepts subscription ride requests (that is a trip scheduled for the same time each day) and such trips do not need to be rescheduled but must be confirmed every 2 weeks. Reservations are taken 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reservations can be made seven days in advance and up to the day before the trip. Bus schedules are available from each transit provider. Lift-equipped vehicles routinely service some routes. All systems will mail route and schedule information upon request. Bus schedules are available at Metrorail station kiosks, area transit stores, on the buses, or by calling Metro (202-637-7000, TTY 202-638-3780) or Fairfax Connector (703-339-7200, TTY 703-339-1608) information lines. Schedules are also available on-line at each transit office's webpage (see listing below) and at www.commuterpage.com. Metro's Ride Guide at rideguide.wmata.com also provides up to the minute information. Lift-equipped vehicle scheduling generally requires 24 hours advance notice. For up-to-date information on making lift-equipped reservations, contact the provider you plan to use. Please note that holidays and weekends affect schedules and the availability of lift-equipped buses. All buses accept exact change only. Bus operators can provide fare information when boarding. The cost of a trip can best be determined by calling the transit company. Most transit providers have established a "senior citizens and disabled customers" fare. To be eligible, the rider needs to have an official Metro ID or present a Medicare card plus a photo ID (see discussion of Metro ID under Metrobus). SmarTrip cards (www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip.cfm), fare cards, flash passes, and tokens (www.wmata.com/riding/passes.cfm#farecard) can be purchased at Metro outlets, local grocery stores, Commuter transit stores, public libraries and from vendors listed on the Fairfax Connector and WMATA web sites. Reduced fare cards and passes are available for the day, week or month. Cards, passes, and tokens are available for passengers with and without disabilities. Metrobus Metrobus, operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, provides bus service to the entire metropolitan area. Metro's Customer Information provides information on all metropolitan-area bus and rail systems. Customer Information is open Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m., and weekends, 8:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m. The Ride Guide, available on-line at rideguide.wmata.com, is a tool that can simplify travel planning. If a passenger is traveling on a fixed route that does not have regularly scheduled lift-equipped buses, it is recommended that arrangements be made 24 hours in advance. Riders should call Metro On-Call Service, which is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Metro's Consumer Assistance takes riders' compliments and complaints Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. A person with a disability may need a Metro Photo ID to buy discount train and bus passes throughout the region. To obtain application forms, call the Photo ID number above or visit www.wmata.com/riding/senior_disabled_id.cfm. The application requires a physician's signature. Once a physician signs the application, riders must call the Photo ID number to schedule an appointment to have a card made, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The card is renewable and also qualifies a passenger for the Metrobus and Metrorail discounts available for people with disabilities. ART Arlington Transit (ART) operates within Arlington County, supplementing Metrobus service and providing access to Metrorail. All buses are lift-equipped. CUE (City of Fairfax) CUE operates seven days a week and serves the City of Fairfax and George Mason University. All buses are lift-equipped. CUE has a reduced fare for people with disabilities. DASH (Alexandria Transit Company) DASH buses serve Alexandria City. Advanced scheduling is required for lift-equipped vehicles. Call between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. the day before traveling to schedule a lift-equipped bus. George (City of Falls Church) The City of Falls Church's bus service originates from either the East or West Falls Church Metrorail station, and serves most destinations within Falls Church City. GEORGE uses 24-passenger buses designed with features to make the system accessible for everyone. All 4 vehicles are equipped wheelchair lifts and a stop enunciator system. Fairfax Connector The Fairfax Connector system serves Fairfax County and includes the Dulles Corridor and the Reston Internal Bus System (RIBS). Most buses are lift-equipped; 24-hour advance scheduling is required for buses operating out of the Huntington Metro station. The Connector's information line provides information on all bus and rail systems operating in the metropolitan area. When riders call and explain where they are and where they want to go, trip details are provided-for example, where to wait for the bus, which bus to take, where to transfer if necessary, where to connect with rail, how long the trip will be, and the cost. MetroRail MetroRail provides rapid rail service to the entire Washington metropolitan area. It operates Monday through Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to midnight; Friday from 5:30 to 3:00 a.m.; Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to midnight. There are two fare schedules: rush hour and non-rush hour. Regular full-fare fare cards for Metrorail are available at each station. Discounted fare cards for senior citizens and people with disabilities can be purchased in area grocery stores, transit stores, and libraries with a Metro ID card. Call Metro (202-637-7000), Fairfax Connector (703-339-7200) or Metro Link (202-962-6464) for details. Maps showing station locations are available from Metro and are also displayed in each station, and are available online at www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm. The travel time and cost between stations is printed below each map displayed in the stations. Elevator and escalator outages can be found by calling the number shown above or by visiting www.smartrip.com/stcnd/stations_ele_oos. Virginia Railway Express Virginia Railway Express provides commuter rail service between Manassas, VA, and Washington, DC, and between Fredericksburg, VA, and Washington, DC. VRE is equipped with wheelchair lifts and has accessible parking, access ramps, audio/visual public address system, talking ticket vending machines, TTY phones, and Braille signage. VRE has limited weekend and holiday services on AMTRAK trains. VRE offers discounted fares (50% off the full single ride fare, Ten-Trip tickets, and monthly tickets) for people with disabilities who possess a valid Metro ID card. Note: Only companies offering lift-equipped service for people with disabilities and charging the same or lower fares as those paid by riders without disabilities are listed under this heading; consult Yellow Pages for detailed listing of all cab companies. Fairfax SENIORS ON-THE-GO! SENIORS ON-THE-GO! is a taxi voucher service that provides mobility for eligible residents of Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax at a reduced cost. Eligibility is determined by income and is only for riders 65 and over. You may use any participating taxi company for travel for any purpose. There is a limit on the number of trips per year. Call the number above for eligibility requirements and applications. Fairfax Yellow Cab Red Top Cab of Arlington Red Top of Fairfax Red Top and Fairfax Yellow Cab serve Northern Virginia and all airports, using a metered fare. Both companies have wheelchair accessible minivans with ramps. Red Top also offers a 10% discounted rate for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. For more information on the discounted fare, call 703-247-5100. White Top Cab Company of Fairfax White Top serves Fairfax County and all airports, and has a lift-equipped minivan Metered fare is based on the distance traveled. Advance reservations can be made up to two hours before travel. Note: All taxi companies provide service to area airports. Consult taxi section of this document. Baltimore Washington International Airport All buses to parking lots are lift-equipped. Riders should contact rental car companies directly to determine if their shuttles are equipped with lifts. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Courtesy van service to parking lots is available for patrons with mobility impairments by calling 703-419-9795. Advance reservations are available. Riders should contact rental car companies directly to determine if their shuttles are equipped with lifts. Metrorail has a station located at the Concourse (Level 2) of the new terminal. SuperShuttle SuperShuttle door-to-door shared-ride service provides transportation to all airports. The van picks riders up at home, business, or hotel anywhere within the Washington/Metro area. Vans, which hold up to seven passengers, provide service from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily. Twenty-four hour advance reservations are recommended.
AEROLINK operates lift-equipped shuttles 24 hours between the hourly and economy parking lots and Dulles terminal. No reservations are required. Accessible parking is provided in the hourly lot at daily parking rates and in the economy parking lots adjacent to the shuttle bus stops. Riders should contact rental car companies directly to determine if their shuttles are equipped with lifts. Washington Flyer Airport Express Washington Flyer Airport Express operates 17 lift-equipped buses. This service links Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport with Washington Dulles International Airport, connects Dulles with the Metrorail system, and provides nonstop transportation to downtown, stopping several times each hour at city hotels. Call for rates, schedule information, and reservations. Commuter Connections This regional transportation network is dedicated to easing the daily commute. It provides information on ridesharing services, public transit, park and ride lots, and suggestions and recommendations related to onsite employer programs and staggered workweeks or compressed schedules. A Guaranteed Ride Home Program is offered for those who rideshare or commute using public transportation. Call for more information.
Free information and referrals for Northern Virginia seniors needing help finding a ride. Connect-A-Ride is a special program of the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA). Help Line open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Washington Post maintains a website that updates travelers and commuters on road conditions as well as the status of bus and rail service in the metropolitan area. Where to Purchase Passes and Tokens for Tickets can be ordered online at www.commuterpage.com/onlineordering.cfm. Tickets can also be purchased at metropolitan area grocery stores and public libraries.
Ballston Transit Store
Reston East - Wiehle Park & Ride Connector Store Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride Connector Store Springfield Mall Connector Store
Metro Headquarters (Lobby) Metro Center Sales Office Metro Northern Division Metro Western Division Metrobus Southeastern Division Metro Royal Street Division Metrobus Four Mile Run Division Metro Pentagon Sales Office
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