Access Service

Access is a service designed to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The purpose is to provide equal access to public transportation for persons who are physically or cognitively unable to use regular bus service. Access provides curb-to-curb service to complement the Omnitrans fixed-route bus system. The Access service area is defined as up to 3/4 mile on either side of an existing bus route.

• See the Access Service brochure... (Acrobat pdf file)

Access service is available on the same times that Omnitrans bus routes in the area are operating..

• Service Area
• Who can Ride Access?
• Applying for ADA Certification
• Fares
• Making Reservations
• What to expect
• Travel Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions about Access and ADA Certification

Service Area

Access service is available through the Omnitrans service area within a 3/4 mile radius either side of an existing Omnitrans regular bus route.

• Learm more about the service area from the Access brochure...
• See the Access Border Zone Map...

Who Can Ride Access?

• Persons with an Omnitrans (or other transit agency) ADA certification ID cards. Eligibility is determined through an application process. Qualified persons may be granted a permanent, temporary or conditional ADA certification to use Access.

• Personal Care Attendant (adult accompanying and providing personal care to an ADA certified rider). The need for a personal care attendant must be declared in the certification process and will be noted on the ADA ID card.

• Companion (adult accompanying the person with a disability) may ride Access on a space-available basis. Please tell the reservationist if you will bring a companion to ensure there is room on the vehicle.

• Children who accompany qualified adult riders. A maximum of two children four years old or younger may ride free. Children under age 6 or under 60 pounds must travel in a rider-supplied child-restraint device (car seat).

• Service animals (seeing eye, signal, utility) with proper harness and/or identification.

Applying for ADA Certification

You can download an ADA Certification application from this site or call Omnitrans to request an ADA application package at (909) 379-7100.

• ADA Certification Application (37k Acrobat pdf)

Eligibility is determined by three factors:

1. Individual's ability to get to/from bus stop
2. Individual's ability to board/exit the bus
3. Individual's cognitive ability to navigate the regular bus system

Operational issues are not used to determine eligibility including:

• Age
• Distance to bus stop
• Lack of bus service to an area
• Overcrowded buses
• Weather conditions
• Inability to speak English

All information is kept confidential. Only the information required to provide the requested service is disclosed to those who perform the services. Your answers will not be shared with any other person or company.

Once all of the information required to make an eligibility determination is received, Omnitrans will respond to you by mail within 21 calendar days. If you are determined eligible to use the service, you will receive a temporary certification letter by mail. Your permanent ID card will be issued by mail approximately 10 business days thereafter.

In the event that need to renew an expired card, you will have to complete and submit a new ADA application form. Download the form here: Renewal ADA Certification Application (37k Acrobat pdf)

In the event that you need to replace your lost, stolen or damaged card you can simply fill out and mail the following form:

• Replacement application for Lost, Stolen, or Damaged ADA ID Cards (26k Acrobat pdf)

Access Fares

Subscription Passes

Making Reservations

Access is a pre-reservation, shared-ride service. Pick-up times are scheduled within a 40-minute time period. For example, if you have a 9:00 a.m. pick up, Access will schedule your pick-up time as 8:50 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

You must call at least one day in advance of the day you want to travel. If you like, you can make your reservations up to 14 days in advance. Reservations must be made by calling numbers shown below between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., seven days a week.

Requests for service can be high at times and you might not be able to travel at your preferred time. Access may also increase the pick-up time period from 40 minutes to 60 minutes.

Please note that Access does not operate on News Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

What to expect

Here's what will happen when your Access ride arrives:

• The van or mini-bus will stop in front of the nearest accessible location for the Access vehicle. The driver is not permitted to go up private driveways or to back into a street.

• The driver will honk and wait no more than three minutes for you to come out for your ride.

Your ride will be shared with other passengers. Other pick-ups and drop-offs may occur during your trip.

Travel Tips

Here are some handy tips for using the Access service:

• Pickup Time
  Access schedules pick-up times within a 40-minute time period. For example, if you have a 9 a.m. pick up, Access will schedule your pick-up time as 8:50 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Be ready for Access at any time within this time period. If the vehicle arrives before or after this 40-minute time period, it is either early or late.

• Travel Time
  Travel times on this shared-ride service may take up to double the time it would take on a fixed-route bus.

• Appointments
  When scheduling a trip to an appointment, please give the appointment time to the reservationist so that they can help you determine the best pick-up time. We recommend you schedule your trip to arrive 30 minutes early.

• Cancellations
  Please call as soon as possible if you need to cancel a trip. Trips cancelled less than two hours before a scheduled pickup time will be considered a "no show." Repeated no shows may result in denial of future service.

• Routings
  Please do not ask the driver to deviate from the scheduled trip plan. This will delay other passengers.

• Groceries/Packages
  Limit carry-on bags to what you can easily carry. We suggest no more than 4 12- to 15-pound grocery bags.

• Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids
  Each Access vehicle is lift-equipped with space for three average-sized wheelchairs to be secured. Please let the reservation clerk know if you use a wheelchair or similar mobility aid. The wheelchair must be in good mechanical and hygienic condition. The lift can accommodate a maximum of 600 pounds (combined weight of mobility device and passenger). The size of your wheelchair cannot be wider than 30 inches or longer than 48 inches.