(A
Grassroots Disability Coalition located in Albany, New York's Capital
Region)
Members
of:
The
Council for Community Service of NYS, (CCSNYS)
The
National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates, (NAPTA)
Americans
for Transportation Mobility, (ATM)
An
independent, grass roots, watchdog transportation advocacy organization
by
disabled people and seniors for disabled people and seniors
WE
ARE NOT OWNED, MANAGED, OPERATED OR AFFILIATED WITH CDTA OR STAR PARATRANSIT.
Updated:
November 12, 2008
Top
news:
v CDTA
is PROPOSING a fare increase. It
is not a "done deal" yet. If you don't want a fare increase,
please go to the public hearings below. Keep in mind that CDTA wants to
raise rates not only in 2009 but again in 2010 which would bring the regular
fare up to $2 for one ride! For STAR customers, that could be as much as
$4 per one way trip! YOUR opinion can make a big difference on if this
fare increase happens or not. If the public just takes it for granted
nothing can be done, nothing WILL be done and the fare increase will
happen. If many people turn out to object to this increase, CDTA will
probably find another way to balance their budget.
While we
understand the hardship of balancing the CDTA budget, we know first hand how
difficult it is for the public using the bus service to balance their personal
budgets in this economy. With gas prices, food costs and just about
everything going up, this is one service that is available that should NOT go
up, especially for people with lower incomes, and on fixed incomes, seniors and
people with disabilities. These citizens will be the hardest hit by this
fare increase.
One thing that
was proven with the presidential election is that when people turn out and speak
their mind in this country, change CAN happen. Come out to the hearings if
at all possible, mail in objections (feel free to email them to us to bring to
CDTA) - do what you can to fight the CDTA fare increase! We list the
public hearing schedule below. We advise to check with the CDTA website
close to the date to confirm the date hasn't been changed or call the location
where the meeting is to be held.
Donna Suhor
CDCAT CEO
Proposed
Fare Increase - CDTA Public Hearing Schedule
Saratoga
County:
Monday, December 1, 2008
4:30-8:00PM
Saratoga Public Library, Community Room
49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs
Rensselaer County:
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
4:30-8:00PM
Troy City Council Chamber
City Hall, Monument Square, Troy
Albany County:
Thursday, December 4, 2008
4:30-8:00PM
Albany Public Library, large auditorium
161 Washington Avenue, Albany
Schenectady County:
Monday, December 8, 2008
4:30-8:00PM
Schenectady County Public Library, McChesney Room
99 Clinton Street, Schenectady
v
CDTA stated they are no longer having
semi-annual STAR meetings.
We'd heard the reason was financial but CDTA denies this is the reason for the
decrease from 2 STAR Town Meetings per year to only one meeting per year.
We are working on a better solution so that CDTA customers that use STAR may
have more opportunity to get new information about STAR, ask questions and keep
a dialogue going with the people who actually use the system.
vThe
Coalition does not have vehicles or directly provide
transportation.
We've been getting some calls to provide
transportation. CDCAT does not have vehicles to provide
transportation. We do assist people with disabilities and seniors in
locating transportation, including wheelchair accessible transportation. Please
see our ABOUT US link to see other things we do. Case Workers and other
professionals working with seniors and disabled consumers on transportation
issues, see our new Professionals page! If looking for phone
numbers for transportation providers, please click on our "phone book"
link.
v
We are not owned, managed, operated or otherwise run or affiliated with CDTA or
STAR Paratransit. We
are an independent, grass roots, disability transportation
advocacy organization by disabled people for disabled people. We are here to help people who have problems with CDTA,
STAR and other transportation such as taxis, Medicaid transportation, trains
etc. All of us either work with or have disabilities (some both).
We work on all types of transportation problems, give people information on
their rights, do transportation research, and work on NYS systemic
transportation issues. We do not give out ANY information to ANYONE
that you give to us without your express permission. We protect our
information sources and our customers privacy. We never give
out or sell our mailing
list or email list (We believe that most people have enough spam and junk mail
already). We offer support and protection to our clients. All of our
services are free.
v
CDTA has a completely new STAR certification policy, including
new forms. They also have added a in-person assessments to make applying and
getting STAR even more difficult and to discourage people from even going
through the process. We are meeting with them on this and will
continue to work on this unacceptable burden on people applying for STAR. One
word of advice - You should always bring someone with you to any physical
assessment. These assessments are to rule out people that "don't need
STAR" and to give more limitations to those that are approved for STAR
service. Please go to our STAR application
101 page for more information on the entire application process.
(this should be on the website before or by 11/20/08.
We
will explain the entire application as well as the process, including the in
person evaluation to you in detail. The coalition heavily suggests
bringing a disability or transportation advocate with you for this evaluation
Please
note: If you are EVER told you must have a psychiatric evaluation and you
did not apply for STAR listing psychiatric reasons for needing STAR Paratransit,
please call us and feel free to refuse that part of the evaluation. You
can not be forced into this type of evaluation or to answer any questions not
relevant to your application. Please call or email us for assistance.
If you need someone to go to a
physical assessment with you , please call us at (518) 273-1110. We
will send a transportation advocate with you for free.
We help with STAR appeals for free. Call us if you are turned down for STAR or given only limited service!
STAR can't bill for missed
application evaluation appointments:We have had one success with the new certification process: The part
of the application that stated customers would be billed should they miss a in
person assessment appointment was ILLEGAL and we told them this must be
removed. They removed this on the newer forms. If you ever see this,
it's probable that you have an old form. Disregard this information. We
aren't by any means saying customers should miss appointments for no reason,
it's polite and practical to call STAR and let them know if you can't make an
appointment. If you should though forget or not have a phone nearby to
call, you can NOT be billed for this.
vThe CDTA Disabled Advisory
Committee (DAC) has had a change - for the better. See our information on this
on the Disabled Advisory Committee (DAC) page.
v
We are still working on our website. You'll notice some new buttons to
the left shortly - including a traveler's information area for disabled travelers, a new
comprehensive STAR link, and a much better organized home page here. We
are continuing to update some of the newer pages so please check back
frequently. Our calendar of events has also been updated.
Business
Travel? Conference? Vacation?
Planning a trip to Albany NY or the Capital Region? Call us at (518)
273-1110 or email if
you have disability related transportation questions. It's best to plan your
transportation for your trip or conference as far in
advance as a month. If you use paratransit service, it is available
here. You do not have to go through the STAR application process or
evaluation, you can get visitor status simply by calling in advance and
having either paratransit certification elsewhere (fax CDTA proof) or a
statement from a doctor that you have a disability and can't use regular buses -
that you need STAR Paratransit. You should NOT be asked any questions on
why you can't use the regular buses or even asked for more information on your
disability so long as you provide this information and you are from outside of
the Capital Region where CDTA operates. You then have up to 21 days to use
STAR without having to apply or answer any questions. Should you feel
you are being asked too many questions, told you can't use STAR or discouraged
from using STAR while a visitor here by CDTA/STAR please contact us at
518-273-1110. All of this information is Federal Law from the American's
with Disabilities transportation regulations.
Make sure you have your paratransit ID or certification letter, and you
should fax this to STAR, CDTA's paratransit office, at least 2 weeks in advance
of your arrival. There is more information on our Traveler's
Help page!
We've
also just begun a project named Accessible Albany - This is an ongoing
project to help travelers to our Capital Region - not only to Albany!
We're working on a new link just for this so you can see our progress and so
tourists and business travelers and seniors can access the draft information
document this summer.
Have
good or bad information about your trip to Albany or the Capital Region?
Please email it to us. We want to KNOW what happened, good or bad, so we
can work to make your trip better the next time, or commend the hotel or
business that gave excellent service!
CDTA
STAR Ticket and Line bus Half Fare Swipers - Online STORE
STAR
Coupons and Reduced
Fare Swipers are
available ON LINE at the CDTA E-STORE! Just click on the link below!
NEW
Please Note:
The
Coalition has asked CDTA to allow purchasing half-fare Swipers AND STAR tickets
in one area so that customers don't have to purchase them separately and retype
all the address information. CDTA responded that they will look into
setting this up in the near future for customer convenience but has yet to make
changes in respond to our simple request.
CDTA
Service to Saratoga for both line buses and STAR
Buses
now go to and from Saratoga daily. Both line buses and STAR are available
to go to Saratoga. STAR also has service in Saratoga.
These are
LONG rides. The Route 50 that goes from Schenectady to Saratoga can take a
few hours by itself (See the 7/23/08 Times Union article where it took 8
hours to go from Troy to downtown Saratoga Springs by bus).
If you
use STAR to go to Saratoga, make sure to ask how many buses you will need to take.
Being told you must take more than 2 (One to Schenectady and one to Saratoga)
by STAR not regular bus, may be incorrect. Be sure to mention any
conditions which would require that you have air conditioning and do not board a
bus that does not have it unless this won't harm any conditions that you have. (
Being on a bus for a hour or two in 90 degree heat would be especially dangerous
for some conditions.) STAR customers that have unconditional certification may need a
straight ride to Saratoga or at worst, a stop in Schenectady to pick up any
other passengers going there. Make sure to ask if you will be brought to
Saratoga by STAR or just brought to a Route 50 bus. If the answer isn't
acceptable to you, please call us before scheduling your trip
to Saratoga via STAR.
Please realize
that this is a longer trip on STAR too, but it should not be so convoluted that
you need an itinerary. If you have problems with endurance (long ride and then
tending to your business or entertainment as well as a long ride home), you may
wish to stay overnight so you can enjoy this more. You should ask about
your transportation and how it will be handled while you are in Saratoga such as
any trips from a restaurant to the racetrack or to the mall etc.
Those
that use oxygen should plan for taking extra tanks.
People
with diabetes or other medical conditions that make it medically necessary to
eat (low blood sugar etc) CAN eat on the bus if medically necessary.
Bringing
a PCA does not mean you must take a regular bus.
To
read more, at least on line bus service, check out the CDTA link below.
Check
out our available NEW forms and
brochures on
our Forms page. We have forms for STAR to
prove you didn't no-show. We also have STAR application forms available,
an appeal guide, complaint forms and a helpful STAR scheduling log - all free of
course.
CDCAT Outreach and Training Program Available
CDCAT has a new outreach and training program. We will be assisting
agency and organization training of case coordinators, case workers and other
staff on transportation advocacy and various methods of transportation for
people with disabilities. There's also a training and support program in
the works on 'How to obtain transportation to meet your clients needs'. More on
this soon. Remember, we will help explain and train on all areas of
transportation including Medicaid, Public transportation including both line bus
and STAR, rail, long distance bus, and air. We can provide advocacy and
assistance in cases of transportation denials. We assist customers with
appeals for free.
Generous donation of
services from Hyperoffice.com
Hyperoffice donated an intranet for our
Coalition's board of directors'
use. We are very excited about this as it allows a place for our
board to work on issues and plan future agendas. This very
generous donation by HyperOffice shows their commitment to the
public needs and concern for people with disabilities.
We wish to publicly thank them as well as to send business
their way. If your organization is looking for a fantastic
intranet, HyperOffice is the way to go. It's easy to understand,
has a variety of options and you can upload entire folders into the
documents area. (Some intranets don't have this option so you
must spend countless time uploading each FILE). There's email, a
calendar, different groups for various projects - the list of features
is so long. I've never advertised here but - I'm making an
exception with these guys, not only because they donated our intranet
but because I BELIEVE they are the best!
2008
CDCAT
Community Meetings
Coalition Community Meetings are held every other month between March and
December only. (There is no January Meeting due to extreme weather
conditions.) These meetings are to offer assistance with problems and
paratransit appeals and to discuss any
transportation issues
relating to those of us with disabilities in the Capital District.
Our next Coalition Community
Meeting will be on:
Please note the
changes!
When :
Thursday, December 4, 2008 (Our last public meeting till March 2009!)
Time: 6:30pm
-
8:00pm
Where: Albany
Public Library (Main Branch)
161 Washington Ave.
upper floor - conference room 1
Note:
This happens to be the same day of the CDTA Albany Public Hearing at the Albany
Library on the Proposed Fare increases. You will have time to come to
both!
For more information and
future meeting dates
(518) 273-1110 or check with the Albany Library.
Important
Note: We DO NOT have meetings if there are extreme weather
conditions.
Board
Member's Reminder:
"Please
do not forget that the best way to address injustice is to become involved
and take action against whatever it is that you feel is not being done the
way that it should be. To complain but not be prepared to take action
toward a possible resolution or at least to minimize the situation is in
part, part of the problem. So, please consider becoming involved and
together we can accomplish almost anything."
Cliff
Perez
CDCAT
Board Member
&
Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley's
Systems Advocate
CDTA Public Code of Conduct
This code
is for all CDTA passengers. We've given CDTA a letter that also
states
that the part of the code requiring ID's for service animals is
violating
Federal laws. You do not need a license for a service animal. Please
do not try to claim your pet snake or companion animal is a service animal, this
makes things harder for people that have REAL service animals.
Accessible
Wheelchairs available at Rensselaer Train Station & the Albany Airport!
Albany Airport
There should
be 2 "wheelchair accessible" taxis (A taxi with a ramp so someone
doesn't have to get out of their wheelchair and transfer to a seat)
available at the airport and from the Rensselaer Train
Station.
Capitaland Taxi has both the
Airport and Train Station taxi contract. Anyone coming into the area should
contact Capitaland Taxi and let them know the date and time they will
arrive and that they need a wheelchair accessible taxi and can't transfer
to a seat or have a power chair that can't fold and be placed in a trunk.
If possible, try to call about 24 hours advance so you don't have to wait for a taxi.
We suggest you take their number with you to call in if you find your plain or
train is running earlier or later than you wanted. You still
can though just call from the station but expect a possible wait.
Please let us know if you have
difficulty getting an accessible taxi to or from the Airport or
Renesselaer Train Station or if you have any associated problems with
these taxis (overcharging etc.)
Tips:
Taxis are metered at the
Airport and Train station. Make sure they use the meter.
Accessible taxis cost
the same as any taxi.
Service animals can not be
refused nor do they have to be licensed.
Ambulettes
vs Wheelchair Accessible Taxi
Watch out for
"Bait and
Switch" when you are trying to find an accessible taxi. We've
seen taxi companies with accessibility symbols listed in the phone book
that advertising accessible taxis. These companies do not always have any real accessible taxis. They
will send out something called an "ambulette". These are the wheelchair
accessible vehicles (look just like a taxi sometimes) that these companies use to transport customers to
Medicaid
medical appointments. Should they send this, (They may try to call it an accessible taxi), you'll end up
paying up
to 4 times the normal cab fare! Make sure to ask the price UP
FRONT.
True
accessible
taxis DO NOT COST 4 times the amount of a regular taxi.
Federal law prohibits it! Call
the police (and the Coalition) if you are told that you are being sent
an accessible taxi
and you
are instead sent an ambulette and charged more than you should be!
Get
a RECEIPT for your payment or refuse to pay till you GET a receipt
should the
cost seem too high. (This is your proof for
later if
you find out you were overcharged.)
Call the
Coalition!
Call the Coalition, We don't have CDTA's resources
and only
volunteers but we try to answer our phones, and return calls promptly.
If we're
unavailable, leave be sure to leave a message on our voice mail and we'll promptly return your
call.Call (518) 273-1110
Disability Rights Online News
The
Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division has news articles of interest to people with disabilities. Check
out the
link below.
Problems using this web
site? E-Mail the Webmaster Important: The Webmaster
e-mail link is only for technical problems (as when you receive an
error page or message or for dead/broken links) It is not for
information or about web page contents.
Accessible
Wheelchairs available at Rensselaer Train Station & the Albany Airport!
