Region of Peel Accessible Transportation Services
Region of Peel Accessible Transportation Services is a family of paratransit services being operated by the Regional Municipality of Peel.
Services
Passenger Plus
The Passenger Plus program, in partnership with Red Cross, is being offered for dialysis patients. Service to hospitals throughout the region are being offered three times a week.
Passenger Plus program is projected to make 17,000 trips in 2012.
Passenger Assistant Program
The Passenger Assistant Program, also in partnership with Red Cross, is offered for adults and seniors who have intellectual or mental health disabilities such as epilepsy, low vision, and Alzheimer's disease. It also serves people who require supervised transportation and assistance while travelling. This is contrary to TransHelp where passengers using that particular service are more independent. Each passenger is met by designated caregivers at each end of their trip. One or more assistants are on board with clients and are present in case of emergency.
As of 2009, the program was being used by 63 people in Mississauga and Brampton, with 60 more on the waiting list.[1] The Passenger Assistant Program is projected to make 32,000 trips in 2012.
Public Transit Access Initiative
This provides opportunities for people with disabilities to become comfortable and familiar with accessible public transit systems. Accessible Transportation provides and pays for travel training assessments, as well as up to five hours of individualized travel training for those who want to learn to use Brampton or Mississauga Transit. A “how-to” video provides encouragement as well as tips on how to use transit services.
Taxi Scrip
This provides travel for people with disabilities by providing spontaneous transportation via taxi.Trips can be for urgent appointments, including medical appointments and visits to long-term care facilities. Seniors and people with disabilities are able to purchase subsidized taxi scrip from the Region of Peel; each book containing $40 worth of taxi fare will cost the user $25.
TransHelp
TransHelp is a separate accessible transit system operated by and serving all of Peel Region. It is used by people who have mobility problems, are physically unable to climb or descend stairs, or cannot walk a distance of 175 metres. Wheelchair users are allowed to use Transhelp, but the elderly or dialysis patients are not automatically eligible.
Transhelp is the most popular paratransit service being offered by the Region: it is projected to make 403,000 trips in 2012 with a fleet of 28 specially equipped buses.
For residents of Caledon, Ontario, they are serviced by Caledon Community Services Transportation.
Operations
Transhelp operates seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., including holidays. Additional service is being offered during statutory holidays.[2]
Weekend and Holiday service and trips that cannot be accommodated by paratransit vehicles are provided by taxi services:
- In Brampton: Bram City
- In Mississauga: Blue and White
Fleet
- Crestline ElDorado National Aerotech
- Crestline GCII
Fares
The fare for Peel's accessible services is based on the cash fares of its parallel conventional transit services: Brampton Transit and MiWay. The fare would be equal to the cheaper amount of those two cash fares. As of January 30, 2012, MiWay and Brampton Transit have equal cash fares, both being $3.25, hence a one-way trip also costs $3.25.
For TransHelp users, in order to have a TransHelp account, new registrants will have to prepay at least $32.50, which is equivalent to 10 one-way trips. A monthly pass is also being offered for $108.[3] No-show and cancellation fees are being deducted from the TransHelp account.
See also
- WheelTrans
- Mississauga Transit Accessible Services
- Caledon Community Services Transportation
- Métis Transit Limited