All RTA buses are wheelchair accessible, and RTA offers special Paratransit service for persons whose disabilities qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This service uses specially-trained operators and smaller, lift-equipped buses. To register for this service or to speak to a customer service representative, call RTA's Customer Service Center at 216-566-5124.
Download a printable PDF
Are You Eligible for RTA ADA Certification?
To determine if you qualify for RTA's Paratransit Service, simply answer the following questions:
- Are you unable, as a result of physical or mental impairment, to get on, ride, or get off an accessible vehicle on the public transit system?
- Do you need a wheelchair lift or similar device to board the vehicle, but one is not available at the rapid transit station where you wish to board?
- Do you have an impairment-related condition that prevents you from traveling to or from a station or stop on the public transit system?
Categories of Eligibility
RTA defines its Paratransit Service with three categories:
- Categories I and III provide door to door travel from your home to a destination within a 5-mile radius. Service beyond this area may be available if there is a standard RTA route during the desired time with stops within 3/4 of a mile from your places of pick-up and drop-off.
- Originally, Category II eligibility allowed customers to call ahead to request a lift bus be added to a regular route running at its scheduled times. However, all RTA buses are now wheelchair accessible, eliminating the need for a special request.
Applying for Certification
To request an RTA ADA Certification application, just call 216-566-5124. Hearing impaired persons can call 216-781-4757 (TDD). Feel free to call
these numbers if you need assistance completing the application as well. RTA will process your application within three weeks and will send you a
letter describing the approved service. Please bring this letter to Customer Service at RTA's main office building at 1240 West 6th Street to receive
your RTA ADA Identification Card. Forty-eight hours after receiving your ID card, you can begin using our call-ahead system to request Paratransit
service.
As part of the certification process, applicants may be asked to undergo a functional test to determine their physical and cognitive capabilities to
use public transit. The testing process is handled by trained professionals from NovaCare
Rehabilitation of Ohio. It is free for applicants, and RTA will provide the transportation, if needed.
More on functional testing.
Affordable Fares
With your valid RTA ADA Certification card, Category I and III door to door service costs $1.75 each way. Fixed-route bus and rapid service is
free for ADA-Certified riders. Personal Care Attendants, as defined by the ADA, travel free on all services.
Arranging Your Travel
Once you're certified for RTA Paratransit Service and have your ID card, just call 216-781-1110 and select "2" after the prompt to connect to a scheduler who can assist. Hearing impaired persons can call 216-781-6148 (TDD) to schedule a service. Our schedulers take trip requests seven days a week from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. When calling to schedule a trip, please remember the following:
- Have the identification number on your RTA ADA card ready.
- Know the address of both your
pick-up and drop-off points. Name buildings and landmarks where appropriate.
- Have the month, date, and times of pick-up and drop-off ready. Reservations can be made up to seven days in advance.
- When reserving a return trip from a medical appointment, please remember medical appointments are rarely completed on time. Please allow additional time for your requested return trip pick-up time. Remember that Paratransit service requires a minimum stay of one hour after drop-off at any destination.
- You can request up to three roundtrips per call, or one trip with three stops.
- Let the scheduler know if someone will be traveling with you. Guests are required to pay a fare, with the exception of any Personal Care Attendants you listed on your application.
- The scheduler will arrange your trip while you are on the phone and will give you a window of time for your pickup.
Simple Tips for Smooth Travel
- Paratransit service trips are scheduled with 20 minutes leeway on either side of your requested time, so please be ready. Occasionally, an hour leeway has to be offered in order to accommodate all riders scheduled.
- When your vehicle arrives, please show your ADA ID card and pay your fare.
- As on all RTA vehicles, eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited.
- If the vehicle arrives within your pick-up window and you are unavailable for more than 5 minutes, the driver must continue on. If your pick-up point is your home, the vehicle will not return for you.
- Unexpected delays may arise from traffic conditions, inclement weather, and stops required for other passengers.
- To minimize delays, riders are limited to four carry-on packages weighing no more than 50 total pounds. Grocery carts are not permitted.
- Be aware of the opening and closing times of your destination to avoid waiting outside - the Paratransit operator cannot wait with you.
- Riders should wait where they can see the bus arrive. Operators cannot enter the building at your stop.
- We will make every attempt to accommodate standard wheelchairs, scooters and similar devices. If the device exceeds standard regulations, RTA may not be able to provide Paratransit services.
- Paratransit operators will secure all mobility devices.
Limits of Paratransit Service
While RTA aims to accommodate all Paratransit riders, we cannot provide the following assistance:
- Lifting riders in and out of wheelchairs or scooters. Riders must provide their own Personal Care Assistant or escort for assistance. Those in wheelchairs must have a safe ramp or be at ground level to board RTA vehicles.
- Assisting riders on unsafe mobility ramps.
- Clearing steps, driveways or walkways of snow, ice, or other objects.
- Locking or unlocking house doors.
- Loading or unloading personal items.
How to Cancel a Trip Request
Whenever possible, to cancel please call 24 hours before your scheduled trip, so we can schedule other passengers. We understand that a 24-hour notice is sometimes not possible. In these cases, we require at least 60 minutes notice for cancellations. Unfortunately, not all riders give sufficient notice, causing delays in service. To better serve rule-abiding riders, customers who repeatedly fail to provide sufficient notice may have their Paratransit privilege suspended or possibly revoked. For a copy of RTA's Paratransit No Show, Cancellation and Customer Behavior Policy, call 216-781-1110 or 216-781-6148 (TDD).
For More Information
- To request an RTA ADA application, call RTA at 216-566-5124 or 216-781-4757 (TDD).
- To schedule Paratransit service after you have received your RTA ADA ID card, call 216-781-1110 or 216-781-6148 (TDD).
- If your vehicle has not arrived at the end of your scheduled window of time for pick-up, call the Paratransit dispatcher at 216-566-5244.
- For general questions about RTA services, call the RTAnswerline at 216-621-9500 or download a PDF or word document of RTA's Paratransit brochure.
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