RTC’s paratransit system gets good marks

Friday, Feb. 11, 2000 | 11:43 a.m.

The Federal Transit Administration gave a mostly clean bill of health to the regional bus service's paratransit system in a July 1999 audit, Regional Transportation Commission officials said Thursday.

The audit shows that "we are in full compliance" with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, Lee Gibson, RTC assistant general manager, said at the regular RTC board meeting.

The Citizens Area Transit Paratransit system provides low-cost rides to thousands of people throughout Clark County with severe physical limitations that make it impossible to ride the regular bus system. The ADA requires communities to provide alternate transportation for those with physical disabilities.

Gibson said the RTC still can do better in a few areas, especially the denial rate -- or refusal to give rides -- on weekends, when the paratransit system is running over capacity.

"We have to do a better job of scheduling," he said.

Unlike RTC board meetings in the recent past, Thursday's meeting did not include any negative comments from disgruntled paratransit system passengers. Recent complaints have focused on difficulties with the telephone answering system, delays in scheduled pickups and sometimes no pickup at all.

Paratransit riders also received some good news from the agency. The board approved a $2 million purchase of 19 new paratransit vans.

The vans, from Fountain Valley, Calif.-based Creative Bus Sales, will help replace 11 paratransit vans knocked out of service with mechanical problems last fall.

After the problems, including an electrical fire, were reported among vans of one model being used by the bus system, the RTC took about 20 of the vehicles out of service. Scheduling headaches worsened with the loss of more than 10 percent of the bus system's fleet.

While 11 of those buses are still out of service, eight of them have been repaired and are back on the road, said Ingrid Yocum, RTC spokeswoman.

RTC staff members welcomed the new vans.

"Anytime we get more vehicles, it's a blessing," Gibson said.

Yocum said the new vans should be delivered and in-service in six to eight months.