Paratransit Service

TCATA Access is a transportation service for persons with disabilities who, by means of a disability, cannot use the existing Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority Blue and Red fixed routes, sometimes called Line Hauls or Specials. 

TCATA  Access ADA Complementary Paratransit Application via PDF

TCATA  Access ADA Complementary Paratransit Application via WORD

Who can ride TCATA Access?

TCATA Access is a transportation service for persons with disabilities who, by means of a disability, cannot use the existing TCATA  Blue and Red  fixed routes.

TCATA Access is operated by the Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority. It is the same organization that operates the Blue and Red fixed routes.

TCATA Access service is provided with buses equipped with wheelchair lifts.  If you are eligible, our vehicles can pick you up and take you anywhere within our service area.

Who can apply for TCATA Access?

Anyone may apply for TCATA Access paratransit eligibility.  Call TCATA at (269) 927-2268 and request that an application be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to you Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Let the customer service representative know which accessible format best suits your particular needs. TCATA Access Application  A form must be completed and approved before you may schedule your first trip. Verification of your eligibility by a medical doctor licensed to practice in the state of Michigan may be necessary.

Read TCATA's Current ADA Paratransit Policies and Procedures

Eligibility to use TCATA Access may be granted on a full or conditional basis depending on the person’s ability to use regular fixed route bus service. Those persons who receive full eligibility status may use TCATA Access for all trips within the service area during days and hours that service operates. Conditional eligibility may be granted to persons who under certain conditions may be able to use regular fixed route service. Persons with conditional eligibility may use TCATA Access when their disability prevents them from using the regular fixed route service.

All persons granted full or conditional eligibility for TCATA Access are subject to periodic re-certification of their eligibility status. Such re-certification shall generally be done every three years. 

TCATA Access can pick you up and drop you off only within the TCATA service area. If you are not sure of a location, simply call the TCATA Access information number for help. If you like, a friend or relative may act as your companion and accompany you on your trip. Companions must pay the full fare per one-way trip. Designated Personal Care Attendants/ PCAs may accompany you at no charge. 

TCATA Access drivers may pick you up and drop you off at your curbside. For security reasons, drivers may not enter your home, apartment building or place of business. Remember to make appropriate arrangements in advance.

TCATA Access will accept standing orders for recurring trips on the same day and time from week to week. Please contact TCATA if you are interested in setting up a standing order. 

TCATA Access passenger responsibilities:

• Schedule TCATA Access service at least the day before a trip is planned.
• Paying the proper fare to the driver at the time of the trip.
• Use TCATA Access service only when regular fixed route service cannot be used because of the person’s disabilities.
• Treat TCATA Access personnel and other passengers with respect.
• Show up at the curb of your origin point to board the vehicle. It is not the drivers’ responsibility to look for the passenger in buildings or elsewhere.
• Limit “no shows” and cancellations since these affect service availability and timeliness for others.
• Obey all vehicle and service rules with respect to no eating or drinking on vehicles, no smoking on vehicles, no playing loud music, proper use of seat belts, keeping service animals under control, not bringing on over sized packages and other items, not asking the driver to attend to personal requests of the passenger such as entering their home, handling keys, medications, or running errands.
• Repeated failure to adhere to the responsibilities outlined above may result in refusal of service and possible sanctions in future use of the service.

How much does it cost?

Registration is free. Each time you ride, you must pay the driver half of the regular fare ($1.00 -$3.00) each way.  Drivers will not make change. Punch cards are available for $13.50 and $22.50 at the TCATA transit office at 275 E Wall Street, Benton Harbor

When and where does TCATA Access operate?

The span of hours noted in the table above indicates the earliest time a pickup can be made and the latest time a drop-off can be made.

TCATA Access service is not provided on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

How do I apply?

Obtain a TCATA Access Application,  fill it out entirely and return it to TCATA Access, c/o Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority, 275 E Wall St. Benton Harbor, MI 49022. For an Application with Large Print: contact Customer Service at TCATA (269) 927-2268.

How do I schedule a ride?

When scheduling your rides for a specific time, make sure that you allow plenty of time to complete your appointment so that you will be ready to meet the TCATA Access bus at your scheduled pick-up time. The TCATA Access bus may not be able to return for you if you underestimate your requested pick-up time. Please check with the business where you are going for their opening and closing time so that you do not have to wait outside the building before or after business hours. When scheduling your trips, allow adequate time to reach your destination and extra time for the pick-up and drop-off of other passengers before reaching your destination and for traffic conditions and weather delays.

CANCELLATIONS

If you need to cancel your trip, please phone TCATA Access as soon as you can so that the dispatcher can adjust the driver’s schedules and avoid driving to your pick-up location. Multiple cancellations result in hardships for our schedulers, drivers, dispatchers, and ultimately, other passengers. Please help us all out by scheduling your trips with every intention of keeping them. Cancelling less than one hour before your scheduled pick-up time will result in a "No Show" and eventually suspension of service if a pattern of "No Shows" occurs in any 30 day period.

CALLING TO SCHEDULE YOUR TRIP

To request a trip, call (269) 934-9589  between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily. When requesting a trip, be ready to provide the following information:

1. Your name
2. The date of your trip
3. Your pick-up address (including building/business name, specific pick-up information, i.e. rear door, side door)
4. The street address of your destination (including business name or specific drop-off information)
5. The time you would like to be picked up from your point of origin or the time you need to reach your destination (in order for us to schedule efficiently, we are unable to accept both a pick-up and a drop-off time for the same trip) The time you would like to picked up from your next point(s) of origin
6. If a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) will be traveling with you. If a guest other than your PCA will be traveling with you, including     children. To ensure accuracy when requesting trips, we will read your requests back to you as we have recorded them on our records.
7. If you are unable to reach a customer service representative, you may leave a voice mail and we will return your call as quickly as possible. If you do so, it is essential that you leave all of the required information listed above. A representative will return your call for trip verification. 

Pick Up Times

Please call our office from 6:00 am - 6:00 pm the day before your scheduled trip to confirm your scheduled pick-up times. These hours may vary on holidays.

The bus may arrive from 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after a scheduled pick-up time. You should be ready to board the bus any time within that 30 minute window.

Example:

You schedule a ride for 10:10 a.m. The bus may arrive to pick you up any time between 9:55 a.m. and 10:25 a.m. You will be charged with a No Show if you do not board the bus within 5 minutes of the scheduled pick-up time. If the bus arrives late, the five minute wait time will not begin until the bus’s actual arrival time

STANDING ORDERS

If you wish to schedule repeat service to the same place (work, school, church, etc.), from the same place, on the same days of the week, at least once weekly, you may schedule standing order trips. Standing order trips are ongoing and/or regularly scheduled trips. All standing order trips are subject to our No Show policy and must be cancelled accordingly. We will cancel all standing order trips for the holidays that TCATA Access does not operate. If you are interested in scheduling a standing order, contact the Customer Service Manager.