Mobility/Paratransit

Welcome to the Maryland Transit Administration's (MTA) Mobility/Paratransit program. Mobility/Paratransit service is for citizens who are unable to use Local Bus, Metro/Subway or Light Rail service.Mobility/Paratransit service is provided by the MTA via contracts with Veolia Transportation and MV Transportation. This guide will provide helpful information on all aspects of MTA's Mobility program. Should you have questions about the program please call 410-764-8181.

Operating Hours Paratransit service is provided during the hours and days of the week MTA fixed-route service (bus, Metro-subway, Light Rail) operates. If you have questions about the service hours, please call 410-764-8181. The Paratransit service area consists of any Baltimore City, Baltimore County or Anne Arundel County location, within three-quarters (3/4) of a mile of any MTA fixed-route service. We will be pleased to inform if your pick-up/drop-off locations fall within those parameters.

• What is Mobility/Paratransit

  Mobility / Paratransit is a specialized, curb-to-curb service for people with disabilities who are not able to ride fixed-route public transportation, including lift-equipped buses. Mobility service is provided within three-quarters of a mile of any fixed-route service in Baltimore City and Baltimore & Anne Arundel counties. More...

  The term "fixed-route" refers to Local Bus, Light Rail, or Metro Subway routes operated by the MTA. Mobility service is not offered within three-quarters of a mile of Commuter Bus or MARC Train routes. Fare: The one-way cash fare on Mobility service is $1.85. For your convenience, pre-paid books of 20 Mobility tickets are sold for $37.00 at the MTA Transit Store located in the lobby of 6 St. Paul Street. The tickets have no expiration date. Please Note: In order to serve as many customers as possible in a timely manner, please meet the Mobility vehicle at the curb of your pick-up point. Operators may not come up to your door or take you inside a building.

• How to Participate
  

  To participate in MTA's Mobility/Paratransit program you need to complete an application and submit it to the MTA Mobility Certification Office. The application may be obtained by visiting the Mobility Certification Office, which is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or calling 410-764-8181 (press 2, then 1). This process follows guidelines set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Eligibility is determined based on an individual's functional ability based upon an in-person interview. More...

  All blanks on the application form must be completed. If you require assistance in completing the form, please contact the MTA Mobility Certification Office at 410-764-8181 (press 2, then 2). If you meet the program's certification requirements, you will receive an identification card. You will be asked to display this card when you board a Mobility/Paratransit vehicle.

  Once you receive your identification card, you may schedule rides as described in the Reserving a Ride section. It is very important that you notify the MTA if you have a new address, if you no longer require the use of a wheelchair, if you will not require the service for a period of time, etc. Such notification is vital to your status in the program.

  Completed MTA Certification forms should be mailed to:
  MTA Mobility Certification Office
  4201 Patterson Avenue, 2nd Floor
  Baltimore, MD 21215-2222
  410-764-8181
  Fax: 410-764-7624

• Reserving A Ride

  After you are certified, to reserve a ride in the Paratransit program call 410-764-8181. Be prepared to provide the following information: More...

  1. Your name as it appears on the Paratransit application.

  2. Your complete pick-up and destination address, including zip code, name of building (if applicable) entrance location, cross street or nearest main street.

  3. The time you desire to arrive at your destination, keeping in mind that you must allow at least one-hour between pick-up and drop-off times.The time you will be ready to be picked up for the return trip.

  4. Whether you have special requirements, such as a wheelchair, an oversized wheelchair, a scooter, whether you can transfer to a sedan or if you can only travel by van.

  5. If you plan to have a personal care attendant or traveling companion accompanying you, please see the section titled "Who May Ride with You".

  Paratransit is a shared-ride service. Mobility Department reservation agents will make every attempt to accommodate your travel requests, but they must schedule the times that are available and fit the needs of the greatest number of people. Paratransit is not a taxi service; we cannot accommodate the personal desires of each individual.

  We suggest keeping copies of these information requirements beside your phone. A checklist is included in the forms section. Remember, this information will assist us in furnishing the transportation you desire.

  When ride reservations are made, we must limit the number of rides you request per phone call to six (6) one-way or three (3) round trips. You may call as often as you wish, but the number of rides per call must be limited. All reservations must be placed by 4:00 pm the day before your trip. Mobility does not provide same day trip requests.

  Reservations can be made up to seven days in advance. The reservation agent will be able to tell you which dates are available. To better ensure the time and date you desire, it is suggested you call as far in advance as possible. It is especially important to make holiday travel reservations several days in advance.

  Note: Due to the volume of calls, reservation agents can not look-up addresses for you. You may request the information on frequent destinations become a part of your permanent record.

• Standing Rides

  If your transportation needs require you to be at the same place, at the same time, from the same location, on the same days of the week, you should request a "Standing Ride" from the Reservation Agent. More...

  The process may take several weeks to complete because we may have to wait until a spot in your time slot(s) becomes available.When you are placed on standing ride status, you only have to call to cancel a ride or reserve additional rides.
  
  NOTE: All Standing Rides are automatically canceled on the following holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Should you need transportation on any of these days, please call 410-764-8181 several days in advance to request your ride.

   

• Who May Ride With You
  

  Due to space limitations, we limit the number of people who may accompany you to no more than two (2) persons. If you are pre-registered for a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), only that individual is allowed to ride free of charge; other individual(s) pay the full current one-way passenger trip price of $1.85. More...

  Due to space limitations, we limit the number of people who may accompany you to no more than two (2) persons. If you are pre-registered for a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), only that individual is allowed to ride free of charge; other individual(s) pay the full current one-way passenger trip price of $1.85. PCA's and companions must have the same pick-up and drop-off points as the individual they are accompanying. A child may be considered a PCA. A seat for your PCA and/or companion must be reserved when scheduling your trip. Anyone may be considered a PCA.

  Children may be considered companions. As with the MTA's fixed-route service, a maximum of two (2) children under the age of six (6) may ride with you free of charge. Children over age (6) pay the full adult fare of $1.85. .

• Cancellations/No Shows
  

  Failure to cancel a scheduled ride or to keep a transportation appointment could have a negative effect on the schedules of other riders by not allowing the MTA to schedule other riders in your place. Therefore, please follow these simple rules: More...

  1. Cancellations must be made as soon as possible before your scheduled pick-up. The MTA prefers a minimum of two-hours advanced notice. Early cancellations allow the MTA to schedule rides for other customers.
  2. When cancelling a ride, (or when making any arrangements with the MTA or contracted provider), please make every effort to obtain and record the name of the person you spoke with and the time of day when the conversation occurred. Such information will assist us in resolving problems if they occur.

  Service Cancellations
  During severe weather, such as ice and snow, Paratransit service may be delayed or canceled. We make every attempt to operate as long as local law enforcement and/or traffic agencies permit us to remain on the streets. During such emergencies, we will provide service for medical trips only. All other trips will be canceled.

  Paratransit service conditions will be announced on local radio and television stations including:
  
  WBAL-AM Radio-1090
  WWIN-AM Radio-1400
  92 Q FM-Radio
  95.9 FM Radio
  WBAL-TV - Channel 11
  WBFF-TV - Channel 45
  WJZ-TV - Channel 13
  WMAR-TV - Channel 2

• Pleasant Trip Tips
  

  Both the MTA and the contracted provider make every effort to provide you with efficient and dependable transportation. The objective of the Paratransit service is to be comparable with fixed-route service. The following suggestions will make your trip successful: More...

  1. The assignment of ready (pickup) times is based upon your required appointment (arrival) time at a designated location, the distance traveled, the sharing of the ride with others, and vehicle availability. The farther the pickup location from the destination, the earlier the ready time. Such times are decided by a computerized scheduling system.
  
  2. Since this service is curb-to-curb, we recommend that you be ready to leave your location at least ten (10) minutes before your scheduled ready time. The vehicle will only wait five (5) minutes after your scheduled ready time. For example, if your vehicle arrives at 7:00 a.m., the driver will only wait until 7:05 a.m. If your ride does arrive early, you are not obligated to board the vehicle before your scheduled time, however you may do so if you wish.
  
  3. The driver has 30 minutes after your scheduled ready time to pick you up. For example, if your ready time is 7:00 a.m., the vehicle may arrive up to 7:30 a.m. until it is considered late. If the driver is not at your location within 30 minutes after your ready time, please call the MTA's Paratransit service at 410-764-8181. When your call is answered, press #1, then #2, which will connect you with the Late Ride Agent, or stay on the line, and someone will assist you.
  
  4. The driver can only assist you in boarding and alighting the vehicle. Drivers may not escort you into the building, and they may only remove packages from the vehicle. The "curb-to-curb" service is a requirement due to liability issues.
  
  5. Do not engage the driver in conversation while he/she is operating the vehicle. This is important for your safety as well as others.
  
  6. Do not verbally or physically abuse the driver. Any physical or verbal action you may take against the driver may affect your riding privilege.
  
  7. Do keep a list of your needs (wheelchair, extra-wide wheel chair, scooter, dog, extra seating space, etc.) by the phone, and make certain your special needs are discussed when you schedule a ride.
  
  8. Have your fare and the fare of your companion ready before the trip starts. The driver is required to collect fares before the trip departs. If you do not have the proper fare, the driver cannot transport you. You must have exact change; drivers do not carry change. 9. Prior to departing your location, your seat belt and/or other restraints/tie-downs must be fastened. Make certain they are fastened so you feel secure.
  
  10. Eating, drinking, smoking or playing radios/cassette players without earphones are not permitted by Maryland law.
  
  11. Please notify the MTA of any changes in your status (if you will be in the hospital, if you are going on vacation, etc.). Such information allows the MTA to serve more customers.
  
  12. Contact the MTA as soon as possible when cancelling your ride. The MTA prefers a minimum of two-hours advanced notice so other customers can be accommodated. 13. Please limit the number of packages you take on the vehicle to two. Remember, Paratransit is a shared-ride service, and excess packages will infringe upon other customers.



Documents/Brochures/Newsletters
Mobility Brochure
Taxi Access Brochure
Wheels Newsletter On-line Version  PDF Version
Mobility Checklist
Mobility Phone Numbers