CONCERNED CITIZENS OF PARATRANSIT [email protected] STANDING UP FOR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION

Eliminating TAP and RAP rides to paratransit riders from four round trips a day (240 a month) down to one trip a day (30 trips a month) is an extreme cut, which will cause major capacity constraints to those utilizing TAP and RAP services. This will cause paratransit riders to end up being stranded if they are only allowed to take “one” ride a day with no subsequent return trip. The TAP program has been in place for approximately 20 years and the RAP program since the pandemic, and paratransit riders depend extremely heavily on those services as a reliable source of transportation for people with disabilities. The elimination of available services would be detrimental to the disability community who use paratransit. I strongly recommending that RTA and Pace come up with a more viable plan to make up the short-fall deficit that is less harmful to the paratransit riders.

Access to affordable transportation is crucial for the independence of blind people. Being able to book an affordable Uber trip means I have the freedom to go anywhere anytime I need to make a trip.

People with disabilities depend on this service.

Don’t take away transportation from those who desperately need it.

We need RAP and TAP. Don’t take our mobility away from us.

Implementing these changes without input from the community of people with disabilities likely violates 49 CFR Part 37.137, the public participation requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act. If the Regional Transportation Authority wants to make these changes, please do not do so until a true public participation process has happened involving people with disabilities. This should happen before any ordinances are adopted.

Don’t take away RAP and TAP from the people who need it!

I use Uber everyday to travel to and from work. It’s disappointing that I will be limited to 15 round trips a month. This is devastating. I cannot even use it now for recreation or necessary items like the pharmacy and grocery store. I understand the price increase is necessary I am even willing to pay a bit more for a trip; like $5 a trip for Uber. I refuse to go back to riding South Suburban Cook paratransit service. No more waiting for a long time to take a paratransit bus. No more planning ahead the day before. Give us back our freedom by raising number of trips from 30 to at least 120 trips a month.

The people need to have transit services to allow them to get to all their appointments, pick up meds groceries, etc.

✋️ Hands of public transportation for disability and elderly citizens who depend on their independence to get the doctors appointments and do their shopping

Please do not cut these services. Because the people with disabilities need them plus you are trying to cut these services without us. People with disabilities even knowing that you're trying to do it. Doing stuff without public comment or feedback or knowing that it's being done is unfair and unlawful.

Please do-not make the lives of people with disabilities be placed in danger.

I work 5 days per week outside of my home. These five days are usually a total of 20 days or more that I travel roundtrip just for work. If the number of trips is reduced to 30 per month the way that I travel to work will be negatively impacted. PACE Paratransit is unreliable and I cannot sustain a good job with a good income if paratransit trips are constantly late, as has been my experience. the independence that RSAP and TAP provide for people with disabilities is excellent. We have the opportunity to travel when we want and not have to pre-schedule trips. Don't reduce my independence and that of other people with disabilities!

I strongly feel like there should be no changes. As a blind person with no job and only living on a certain amount of money a month it is terribly hard to budget for transportation as a blind person. I kindly ask that if there will be changes to at least make it four trips a day so we could get back-and-forth from the grocery store to our house.

Our cost of living and minimum wage earnings will not support this. Do not limit rides.

I critically depend on this to get to and from the doctors and to pick up my medication from Walgreens. For that matter, it’s vital just for general travel.

What the regional transit authority wants to do in response to this cut is absolutely ridiculous.

I am a blind Illinois rider of both services. I fully support a price increase if that is what it takes to get through budget, but cutting the rides down to 30 a month would be a completely life change for me. I have a 4-year old daughter I don't feel comfortable taking on trains and busses who needs to get to daycare, so I can work. These services have made invaluable changes to an almost $1750 a month daycare bill. I would be willing to help work with the city to find better ways to negotiate this program, I'd even be ok with a price increase if it was necessary.

Do not limit rides! That makes it extremely difficult for us riders that have to go to work, doctors appointments, etc.

Please do not limit rides. I am job seeking and many of the places I am going too are nowhere near pace routes