1. FREEdom and Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP)
CALACT Conference
April 2019
Toan Tran Director of Mobility and Strategic Affairs

2. About San Joaquin Regional Transit District
Service Area: 1,426 square miles
Population: 745,424
Annual Revenue Vehicle Hours: 0.2 million
Annual Ridership: 3.5 million

3. Dial-A-Ride At A Glance
DAR Statistics
Total Passengers Currently Eligible : 1,496
Average Daily Trips in 2015: 170
Average Daily Trips in 2018: 220
Although we have a relatively small client base, on average we provide
We have experienced close to a 30% growth in the number of trips in the last 4 years.
At this rate it is very difficult to sustain this service considering the finite budget.
That’s why we’ve had to implement more lower cost transportation options to help shift demand.

4. Innovative Options
FREEdom Program
Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP)

5. What is the FREEdom Program?
Allows ADA-certified passengers to ride fixed-routes free of charge
Provides passengers with additional mobility options to travel
Started as a one year pilot project
Launched March 19, 2017

6. Conducted an Evaluation After One Year
Compared DAR usage before and after receiving a FREEdom Pass
Criteria: ADA-certified six months prior to receipt of a FREEdom Pass and active six months after
Of 145 individuals with FREEdom passes, 16 met the criteria
34% reduction in DAR trips
Recommendation – Extend program
Total of 145 FREEdom passes issued from March 2017-March 2018.
16/145 FREEdom card holders met the criteria to provide data.
Criteria: FP holders who were ADA-certified at least six months before receiving the FP and certified at least six months after receiving the FP.

7. What is the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP)?
Mileage reimbursement service that enables ADA-certified passengers to compensate relatives, friends, and neighbors for providing them with transportation assistance
To empower person with disabilities to travel to and from medical appointments with freedom and flexibility
Available to all ADA-certified passengers
Started as a one year pilot project
Launched March 19, 2018
This program provides passengers with freedom and flexibility to travel when they want and who they want

8. How Does it Work?
Recruit drivers from relatives, friends, and neighbors
Complete and submit waiver forms
Track and record mileage for each trip and submit a mileage report at the end of month to receive reimbursement
Receive maximum IRS standard mileage rate for reimbursement

9. How is VIP going? Currently 40 ADA-certified passengers enrolled
614 trips reimbursed since March 2018
175 monthly average miles reimbursed

10. Lessons Learned Challenges
Market programs without generating additional demand on DAR service
Establish VIP parameters that offer both flexibility to the customers and safeguards the agency
Positives
Provide additional mobility options
Shift demand from paratransit to fixed-route
Cost avoidance – approx. $40K annually for both programs