How does Measure A fund paratransit service?

In 1988, Measure A established a $25 million Paratransit Trust Fund that provides interest income to support accessible service provided by Redi-Wheels and the Coastside Opportunity Center.

Where can San Mateo County residents turn to for paratransit service?

Operated by SamTrans, Redi-Wheels and RediCoast are the county’s principal paratransit services.

The services use small buses, mini-vans and sedans and provide service 365 days a year, from 5:30 a.m. to midnight. The cost for both services is $2 per one-way trip.

How has Measure A funding improved paratransit service in the county?

The first allocation of proceeds from the Paratransit Trust Fund was made in 1990. The fund has been used to add new vehicles, expand the travel training program, and make modifications to improve service delivery.

In its first year of operation in 1977, Redi-Wheels certified 300 people who met the criteria to receive paratransit service. Today, about 7,600 county residents are active and eligible riders of Redi-Wheels and nearly 250 new applicants are certified every month.

Trust fund proceeds will continue to be used to increase the capacity of paratransit service in the county.

Why is paratransit service needed?

All SamTrans buses are accessible, and many people with disabilities are able to use the regular fixed-route bus service. However, people who cannot independently use fixed-route transit service for some or all of their trips, may be eligible for paratransit service. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines the eligibility criterion.

However, certified paratransit riders who are able to occasionally use fixed-route service can ride SamTrans during off-peak hours for only 25 cents by displaying a valid Redi-Wheels membership card. Non-peak service hours on weekdays are before 6 a.m., between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and after 6 p.m. Weekends and holidays, all day, are also non-peak service times.

Where can paratransit service take riders?

Paratransit service is most often used for medical appointments, shopping, getting to work and running errands (i.e. bank, post office). Trips must be prearranged.

Eligible residents can receive riders from their homes to and from any destination located on the San Francisco Peninsula and San Mateo County as far south as the city of Palo Alto north of Embarcadero Road, the Palo Alto Veterans Administration medical center and the Peninsula Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. However, Palo Alto trips must begin in San Mateo County. Redi-Wheels also serves the Stonestown area and Bayshore corridor of San Francisco.