Metro Mobility moves toward online reservation system

Thousands of Metro Mobility riders will soon be able to make, change or cancel many of their paratransit travel arrangements using only their home computer.

A new online reservation system will greatly reduce the number of steps and the time it takes to reserve a ride or make changes — tasks traditionally handled by reservation staff via telephone.

More than 60 volunteer riders are currently testing the new online system. Powered by TRAFFIX — the same software used by professional transit planners — the system should be ready for wider use later this year.

New system works well, users say

Dave Bruflodt, chair of the Council’s Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee (TAAC), said his experience with the online system is encouraging. Involved in testing the system from the start, Bruflodt said a lot of the early challenges have been overcome.

“I think the system is very reliable now,” he said. “I believe it will be a big winner for riders and providers alike. The riders should find the system easy to use and available 24 hours a day. The providers will hopefully see a big reduction in phone-call volume and thus reduced wait times for riders who still need to call in.”

Metro Mobility driver assists passenger onto the van's lift platform

A Metro Mobility driver helps a passenger in downtown St. Paul onto the van’s lift platform. Travel training helps people who don’t have experience with regular-route transit learn the ins and outs of ridership.

Ron Biss, another TAAC member with online experience, agreed. “When I booked a trip online recently, I found I was not getting the times I wanted, so I rebooked a second time and got more workable times. I thought that was really neat,” he said.

“By doing it this way, I avoided feeling that I had to accept the first time given, or the first time that a reservationist might say is available. I also liked the fact that I was able to check on ride times without having to call by phone.”

Biss said he hoped the online system eventually would accept a precise address for pick-up and drop-off, similar to the system used by Metro Transit's online trip planner. “There is still room for improvement,” he said.

Metropolitan Council Member Mary Hill Smith said the online system upgrade will pay big dividends over time. “Our Metro Mobility service today is highly regarded in terms of reliability and quality, and the change to an online scheduling system makes it more cost effective,” she said.

Metro Mobility provides an average of 4,300 rides per weekday, including 1,000 for those who use wheelchairs. This map excerpt shows how many rides originated from each community in the Metro Mobility service area during a week in September 2006. See larger map (pdf).

Smith chairs the Council’s Transportation Committee, which oversees Metro Mobility. “We know from our demographic research that demand for paratransit service will continue rising in coming years as the population ages and people live longer,” Smith said. “With more and more people using computers, the move to an online reservation system makes perfect sense. And the sooner the better.”

Travel training builds confidence for new riders

As more Twin Cities residents get older and live longer, the demand for paratransit service will grow in coming decades.

But more demand won’t necessarily guarantee more service. That’s because future levels of service will depend — as it does now — on the state Legislature, which provides the lion’s share of funding.

In response, transportation planners have developed a new approach to help keep seniors moving. “Travel Training” is a new voluntary travel instruction service sponsored by Metro Mobility to help potential riders learn how to use fixed-route transit.

The training offers benefits to all potential riders, whether they are seniors or disabled or not. The class:

Promotes individual travel freedom by building travel knowledge
Encourages flexibility and spontaneity
Educates riders on system network and connections
Informs riders of accessible features of regular buses
Maximizes use of a rider’s transit dollar

ADA riders save money using fixed-route service

Four women take a group travel training class to learn the ins and outs of ridership on regular-route transit.

“The class is designed for people who may not have used fixed-route bus service in the past, but people we hope will try it out for at least some of their trips to help alleviate the demand for Metro Mobility,” said Dave Jacobson, general manager for Metro Mobility. “There is a big incentive for ADA-certified riders, too, because they pay a $.50 fare instead of the $2.50 or $3.50 fare they would pay to Metro Mobility.”

Classes are taught by certified orientation and mobility specialists with years of experience in the field. Instructors understand the unique travel needs of seniors and people with disabilities, and teach riders how to travel safely in their local community or across the region.

For riders with more specific needs, one-on-one instruction can also be arranged. In that case, travel plans are developed for each person’s range of abilities, including how they might take a bus to a specific location such as work, school or a physician’s office.

The group travel class and one-on-one instruction is free to any person with a disability. To learn more, contact Deena at safetravel@comcast.net.

What is Metro Mobility?

Metro Mobility is the Council’s paratransit service for people who are unable to use, or have extreme difficulty using, regular-route transit service because of a disability or health condition.

Metro Mobility provides "first-door-through-first-door" transportation in 89 communities throughout the metropolitan area for persons who are ADA-certified.

The region's ADA paratransit service is provided by five programs: Metro Mobility – serving Minneapolis, St. Paul and many surrounding suburbs Anoka County Traveler – serving Anoka County DARTS – serving Dakota County H.S.I. – serving Washington County Scott County Transit – serving Scott County

Trips can be scheduled for any purpose. Whether a rider is traveling to a doctor's appointment, going shopping or meeting friends for dinner, all trips are treated equally. ADA Paratransit Service is a shared-ride public transportation system, so routes and schedules are designed to transport multiple passengers at one time to multiple destinations.

Rider costs, funding One-way fares are $2.50 most of the time. During peak hours (6-9 a.m. and 3-6:30 p.m., Monday-Friday), one-way fares are $3.50.

The state Legislature appropriates state funds to the Council for Metro Mobility and county ADA programs. Metro Mobility receives no funding from property tax revenues, and federal funding is limited. In 2006 Metro Mobility’s annual budget was about $31 million.