Last Modified on 07/28/2011 11:37:12City of Phoenix Dial-A-Ride service changed on July 26th, 2010 when same-day (demand) service was eliminated. Passengers will be required to be Americans with Disabilities Act certified, and schedule trips the day prior by 9 p.m. Senior citizens who are not ADA-certified are no longer able to use the service.
Below find information on fares for different types of Dial-A-Ride service, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions Section about Dial-A-Ride.
Reservations: (602) 253-4000
Toll free: 1-800-775-7295 (Arizona residents only)
TTY (text telephone): (602) 258-9980
ADA Service Hours Monday - Friday 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday & Sunday/holidays* 5 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Reservations (ADA Service) Seven days a week 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. *New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day (Observed), Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Fares
One Way
Monthly ADA Pass
(Phoenix only)Pre-scheduled Trip
$3.50
$65.00
What payment is allowed on Dial-A-Ride?
Cash, Regional Dial-A-Ride tickets, Phoenix Dial-a-Ride tickets and the Dial-A-Ride monthly pass are accepted.
What is Dial-A-Ride?
Dial-A-Ride services are for passengers unable to access local bus service. Phoenix Dial-A-Ride provides service persons with disabilities. Due to budget cuts, starting July 26, 2010 the service no longer can accommodate seniors, or provide same-day (demand) service.Phoenix Dial-A-Ride offers connections with neighboring Dial-A-Ride services and regional bus routes. Anyone living outside of the Phoenix service area should contact their local Dial-A-Ride.
What Services Does Dial-A-Ride Provide?
ADA:
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires public transportation agencies to provide paratransit services - which complement regular fixed-route bus service - for individuals who do not have the functional ability to ride public transit buses. Dial-A-Ride ADA services provides shared-ride public transportation that complies with the requirements of the ADA.Who Can Ride?
Starting July 26, 2010, Phoenix Dial-A-Ride is available to:
- persons who meet the eligibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- You may be asked for identification to establish your eligibility to use Dial-A-Ride services.
How Much Does Dial-A-Ride Cost?
Phoenix Dial-a-Ride fares are $3.50 one-way.When you reserve your trip, please ask the customer service agent how much your fare will be since exact change is required. Cash, Regional Dial-A-Ride tickets, Phoenix Dial-a-Ride tickets, and the Dial-a-Ride monthly pass are accepted.
How Does Dial-A-Ride Work?
Dial-a-Ride is a shared-ride service, which means that the driver may pick up or drop off other passengers before taking you to your destination. In most cases, you can travel within any given Dial-A-Ride service area without transferring to another vehicle. However, if your final destination is in another service area, you may have to transfer to a vehicle operated by the local Dial-A-Ride provider serving that area. Dial-A-Ride can help you coordinate these transfers, as well as transfers to and from fixed-route bus service.How Do I Get a Ride?
All ADA trips must be reserved at least one day (but up to 14 days) in advance.Subscription trips are another category of travel that require reservations. These are trips that are made on a regular, predictable basis (work trips, for example). In some service areas, subscription trips may be booked several weeks in advance.
To get a ride, call the local Dial-A-Ride provider that serves the area where you will be picked up. When you call, please be ready to give the following information:
- your name
- exact address where you want to be picked up and a phone number at that address
- exact address of your destination and a phone number at that address
- number of people who will be riding
- whether you'll need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle
- whether you'll be traveling with a service animal
- whether you'll need to transfer to another Dial-a-Ride provider or to fixed-route bus service (Dial-a-Ride can arrange either kind of transfer for you).
Remember, since Dial-A-Ride is a shared-ride service, the driver may make other stops on the way to your destination. If you are unsure of how much time you should allot for your trip, please ask for suggestions when scheduling your pickup. The customer service agent will give you an estimate of how long you can expect to wait for and spend in the vehicle.
Important Travel Tips
- Remember, exact fare is required. Drivers do not carry change
- Be ready to go when you call. The driver can only wait five minutes without inconveniencing other passengers
- Allow plenty of time to get to and from your destination. Dial-a-ride vehicles will probably stop to pick up and drop off other passengers on the way to your destination
- When possible, avoid traveling during peak weekday hours:
7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Also bear in mind that the first five working days of the month are the busiest travel days.- If you can't make your trip, please call to cancel at least two hours before the scheduled pickup time. This will help the driver avoid making unnecessary stops.
- Each eligible passenger may bring up to three shopping-sized bags or packages on board.
- Drivers are not allowed to enter a passenger's residence for any reason. Drivers can, however, help carry packages to your door.
- Smoking, eating, and drinking (except when drinks are in authorized containers) are not allowed in Dial-a-Ride vehicles.
- Seat belts are required for all passengers riding in Dial-a-Ride vehicles. Please notify the driver if you require assistance buckling up.
- Information on Dial-a-Ride schedules, fares, and services is subject to change.
What Can I Expect?
ADA:
Dial-A-Ride ADA service is considered "on time" if the vehicle arrives at the pickup point five minutes before or up to 30 minutes after the agreed-upon pickup time.In-vehicle ride time will vary by service area and according to the distance traveled. Please ask the customer service agent how long your trip will take.
Please remember that the driver can only wait five minutes without inconveniencing other passengers.
Personal Care Attendants
A personal care attendant (PCA) is an individual who must accompany a passenger in order for the passenger to fulfill the purpose of his or her trip. For an individual to qualify as an attendant, the ADA-certified passenger must have established the need for a PCA during the ADA eligibility process. PCAs are always allowed to ride with an eligible passenger and are not required to pay a fare. They must, however, travel from the same point of origin and to the same destination as the passenger.Companions
A companion is someone riding with an ADA-certified passenger, but not as a PCA. One companion is always allowed to ride with the passenger as long as a reservation has been made for the companion, and the companion travels from the same point of origin to the same destination. The companion pays the same fare as the passenger. More than one companion is allowed if space is available.Children
Passengers traveling with children under the age of five are responsible for providing an infant car seat. Children under the age of six may be ADA-certified, but must travel with a responsible adult.How Do I Cancel a Trip?
Please notify Dial-a-Ride as soon as you know that you will be unable to make a scheduled trip.Cancellations can be made throughout the day. When calling to cancel, please provide the following information:
- name
- address
- date and time of pickup (specify a.m. trip, p.m. trip, or both)
If the driver arrives for a pickup and is unable to contact you, the driver will notify the dispatcher, who may attempt to reach you by telephone. After these attempts, the driver will wait no longer than five minutes (under normal conditions) past the pickup time. As a result, any scheduled return trip for that day will also be canceled.What Happens When I'm a No-show?
No-shows make it difficult to provide services efficiently and cause delays and inconvenience for other riders. All passengers are responsible for calling to cancel trips that are not needed.A passenger who records more than three no-shows in any 60-day period will be notified by mail of system policies and our expectations of passengers.
A second series of more than three no-shows within 60 days during the same 12-month period may result in a 30-day suspension from Dial-a-Ride services.
Subscription riders will lose their subscription privileges after recording more than three no-shows within a 60-day period.
How Do I Become ADA Certified
If you would like to become certified under the ADA, you can request an application from the Valley Metro ADA Certification Office at (602) 716-2100.How Can I Get a Valley Metro Reduced-Fare Identification Card?
The Valley Metro Reduced-Fare Identification Card is a photo ID that you can use to establish your eligibility for certain Dial-a-Ride fares and services, as well as to receive discounts on local fixed-route bus service.The card costs $2.50 and is good for five years.
You can apply for a card at any Valley Metro photo site locations. In Phoenix there is one:
Desert Sky Mall Information Booth (inside), 75th Ave. and Thomas Rd.When applying, seniors and youths must bring a driver's license, birth certificate, Medicare card, or state non-driver's ID. Persons with disabilities can show a Medicare card, SSI or SSDI statement, MVD handicap placard signed by the physician, or ADA eligibility letter or can bring in a reduced fare application completely filled out and signed by an appropriate licensed health or rehabilitation professional.
Call your local Dial-a-Ride provider if you need a ride to an application site.