Windy City the Way to Go

December 16, 2015

 

 

As Chicagoans, we sometimes take for granted the accessibility of our vibrant culture.  We truly live in a world class city!  A recent post in the Huffington Post highlights some of the important contributions the CTA makes to enjoyment of the Windy City.

At the RTA, we have a vibrant Mobility Services Department.  We provide group and individual travel training and ADA Paratransit certification for riders with disabilities and older adults.  There are  currently about 570,000 riders with disabilities and older adults who have a reduced fare or ride free permit issued by the RTA.  Approximately 60,000 riders are eligible for ADA Paratransit.

Just last week, we increased the number of sites with RTA customer service staff serving these riders from one to four.  RTA staff is now  located within four City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Service (DFSS) offices and riders from throughout the region can visit them. This change allows customers to visit a center closer to home.  It also presents more of a one-stop-shopping experience for riders, as they can now get the information they may need to enroll in the Illinois Department on Aging Benefit Access Program (BAP), which is a required in order to receive a Ride Free Permit, and talk to an RTA staff person at the same location.

2015 is the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and we at the RTA look forward to many more years of serving riders with disabilities.   Read what the Huffington Post says: