Chicago’s TAP program is becoming more popular with the city’s handicapped population. The Taxi Access Program (TAP) began in December 1991 as an experiment in allowing those people who have been certified as handicapped by the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) to ride in any of the city’s taxicabs at substantially reduced rates. Since then, modifications in the program and new approaches have been used to improve the service offered to those Chicagoans who are unable to walk to bus stops or climb the stairs at el stations. In March 2003, 39,160 vouchers were redeemed for cab rides throughout the city. At the present time, some 31,435 people have been certified as eligible for the RTA’s para-transit program which includes TAP.
The basic program works this way: After completing the rigid certification process and receiving the RTA’s photo ID card, a handicapped person can purchase vouchers at the CTA’s Merchandise Mart headquarters, by mail or from one of the city’s five senior citizen centers. Once received, the vouchers, which cost $1.50 each, can be used in any of the city’s cabs for rides which are metered. The maximum meter reading permitted under the voucher is $12, though rides which run higher fares are still permitted to use the vouchers provided the difference is paid in cash.
Cabbies have mixed feelings about the vouchers. While it opens business to an underserved group of people, it increases the cabbie’s paper work. Cabs are required to accept the vouchers. Travel is permitted anywhere in the city on a 24/7 basis. The cab may be hailed on the street or ordered by phone with the expectation of having it arrive in no more than a half hour. Wheelchair-lift equipped cabs are also available.
The need for this service arose when it was determined that, while the city has offered a transit program for the disabled for many years, the private businesses providing these services are able to offer only 7,000 rides every day. The need for para-transit rides runs as high as 40,000 rides daily. Thus, 33,000 handicapped Chicagoans are unable to secure transit to doctor appointments, hospitals, shopping or other normal needs. A new service was instituted on a trial basis last year and in February 2003 was made a permanent part of the service. Called Mobility Direct, para-transit customers who have regularly scheduled doctor or hospital visits can use pre-arranged cab rides without the need for coupons. These charges are pre-approved by the CTA.
According to CTA Chairman Valerie Jarrett, “The Mobility Direct program is a prime example of the CTA expanding existing para-transit services to better match the needs of our customers with disabilities. Through Mobility Direct, we are able to offer customers more travel flexibility by taking advantage of technology that allows us to operate a vouchers TAP program.”
To become para-transit eligible, the handicapped person must apply to the RTA for certification. Following completion of a questionnaire detailing the disability, the individual is then transported to an RTA facility for a personal interview and evaluation. If certified (under guidelines issued to conform with the Americans With Disabilities Act) an ID card is issued which in turn permits the person to receive reduced fare on CTA lines if they can navigate the route to the CTA’s stops, use the specially equipped para-transit services or purchase the TAP vouchers. This cumbersome process is probably the biggest drawback in the RTA program. There is sometimes a two month waiting period for an individual who needs the certification to get an appointment to go into the RTA office for the interview and evaluation process.
There are limits to the number of vouchers which can be purchased at any time and each use requires the display of the photo ID card. Rides are limited to four a day and a maximum of 30 vouchers can be purchased at one time. In addition, vouchers expire after six months from their date of purchase. The CTA carefully monitors the use of vouchers and anyone found abusing the governing rules can be suspended from the program. In addition, cabbies who misuse the vouchers face the loss of their cab licenses.
To give some example of how many people are taking advantage of this service, the CTA reported that TAP ridership increased by about 87 percent in the last year. In addition, the Mobility Direct program, which doesn’t require vouchers, will set dates and times for regular pickup and return of qualified individuals. Through this program, a handicapped person can be deemed eligible for a ride daily to his workplace and to regular medical appointments. Dialysis patients are among those who find this program particularly useful.
It should be noted that, in addition to the para-transit program, eligible individuals are entitled to reduced fares and can use the city’s bus fleet or el trains for rides. Currently, the CTA bus fleet is 96 percent handicapped accessible—this includes 1,933 busses out of the total fleet of 2,003 vehicles. Work is progressing to make more of the el stations handicapped accessible. Handicapped persons who feel they might qualify under the terms of this program can contact the CTA para-transit operations department at (312) 432-7025.
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