1. Innovative Fare Programs for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
Scott Wisner
Customer Service Manager

2. Background
Rising paratransit expenses and limited funding sources were the impetus behind new programs
Many elderly or disabled customers can use fixed route or alternative transportation options
Alternatives are cheaper and in many cases better options
Political support to implement new ideas using technology to drive interest
Implemented in-person ADA assessment process which provided methodology to reduce costs

3. Platinum Pass Program Must be ADA certified
Must reside in city that has agreed to participate
12 out of 16 cities currently participate
Free fixed route trips region wide
Local bus and Rail, Link, Express and Rapid
Valley Metro subsidizes transportation expenses

4. Pass Conditions Photo ID and fare card
Proximity card assigned to individual
Cards are valid for 2 years
Available to customer and PCA

5. Statistics

6. Electronic Fare Payment Program
Valuable transportation alternative for seniors and persons with disabilities
Customers take private taxi rides to go to appointments, run errands, or to visit friends and family
Less expensive alternative than Dial-a-Ride
$10 to $20 per trip
Program participation has increased each of the past five years
The East Valley Ride Choice program is a valuable transportation alternative for seniors and persons with disabilities. Eligible customers take private taxis to go on appointments, run errands, or to visit friends or relatives.
Veolia Transportation manages the program on behalf of Valley Metro. The cities of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe currently participate in the Ride Choice Program. The city of Scottsdale manages their own alternative transportation program, but we are hopeful they will migrate that program into the Ride Choice program in the near future.
The alternative transportation options offered within the Ride Choice program are less expensive than Dial-a-ride and program participation has increased each of the past five years.

7. Program Options Coupon for Cab Program Medical Voucher Program
Customer pays a portion of the cab fare; participating cities subsidize the remainder
25%/75% split
Customers must use taxi companies that accept coupons or vouchers for payment
Medical Voucher Program
Life sustaining medical treatment
Dialysis
Chemotherapy
Trips must originate from home to treatment center
Participating cities pay 100% of transportation costs
The following is a summary of options offered within the Ride Choice Program:
The Coupon for Cab program provides customers with subsidized coupons that are used to pay the cab fare. Chandler, Gilbert, and Tempe subsidize 75 percent of the cab fare and Mesa subsidizes 70 percent of the fare.
The medical voucher program provides free transportation for life sustaining medical appointments, such as Dialysis or Chemotherapy. Trips must originate from the customers home to the treatment center and participating cities pay all of the transportation costs.
The Mileage Reimbursement Program is only offered in Mesa. Customers find volunteer drivers to provide transportation using the volunteer’s vehicle. Participants are reimbursed on a per mile basis based on rates set by the Internal Revenue Service. Participants are then required to disperse the funds to their volunteers. This program is being turned over to Mesa to operate in July 2013.

8. Current Administrative Process
Contractor staff mails coupons and vouchers to customers on a monthly basis
Coupons and vouchers are used to pay the actual cab fare for each trip (including gratuity)
Redeemed coupons and vouchers are counted by hand and submitted for reimbursement by participating taxi providers
Contractor provides usage reports and invoices to Valley Metro on a monthly basis
Valley Metro reimburses Contractor for program administration and transportation costs on a monthly basis
Valley Metro reconciles program costs with participating cities annually
The following is a summary of the current administrative process:
Veolia staff mails coupons and vouchers to customers on a monthly basis
Coupons and vouchers are used to pay the actual cab fare for each trip (including gratuity)
Redeemed coupons and vouchers are counted by hand and submitted to Veolia for reimbursement by participating taxi providers
Veolia provides usage reports and invoices to Valley Metro on a monthly basis, and are reimbursed by Valley Metro within 30 days.
At the end of the fiscal year, Valley Metro reconciles the Ride Choice program costs with participating cities

9. Current Agreement with Contractor Expires June 30
November—Issued Request for Proposal to select new contractor to administer program
Required proposing firms to provide electronic fare payment system to pay cab fares and track program usage
Received one proposal—Creative Software Solutions
Proposal met all criteria in RFP
Our current agreement with Veolia expires June 30, 2013
In anticipation of this, Valley Metro issued a Request for Proposal to select a new contractor to administer the program.
The primary change was that we required proposing firms to provide an electronic fare payment solution to pay for cab fares and track program usage.
We received one proposal from Creative Software Solutions. They have current contracts in various locations throughout the country.
The proposal met all criteria within the RFP and based on the cost analysis conducted by staff, the price was deemed fair and reasonable.

10. Electronic Fare Payment System
Replaces coupons and vouchers
Customers provided with stored value card that can be reloaded quickly and securely:
Internet
Phone
Mail
Customer swipes card in cab at beginning and end of trip
Receipt provides fare paid and available card balance
All trip and fare information available in real time
The Electronic Fare Payment System replaces the need to issue coupons or vouchers on a monthly basis.
Customers are provided with a stored value card that can be reloaded quickly and securely using the Internet, Phone, or by Mail.
The customer simply swipes the card in the cab at the beginning and end of their trip.
Customers can request a receipt, which shows trip costs as well as the balance of funds left on the card.
All trip and fare information is available to Valley Metro staff and to participating cities as soon as a customer completes their trip.
Overall, we believe this is a more efficient, secure and effective way to manage the East Valley Ride Choice programs.

11. Cost and Budget
Lower overall solution than current administrative expenses
Contractor is required to establish agreements with private taxi providers
Program funded by participating cities and grant funds
The proposed cost to administer this program for five years is $940,500. This is a lower overall solution than the current administrative expense we pay Veolia to manage the program.
The contractor is required to establish agreements with private taxi providers that have electronic card reading devices on board each vehicle. As a result, the estimated transportation expenses of $5,081,645 over the next five years is also included in this contract.
The total contract is not to exceed $6,022,145
The program is funded by participating cities and by grant funds when they are available.

12. Scott Wisner 602-251-2021 swisner@valleymetro.org
Questions?
Scott Wisner
This concludes my presentation. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have at this time.