The MTA opened a new intake center for paratransit customers in Lower Manhattan, making it more convenient for local Access-a-Ride applicants to be screened for eligibility for paratransit service. Manhattan had been without an intake center since 2022, when the one on West 13th Street was shuttered. The new assessment center is located at 3 Stone St.
More than 32,000 people applied for Access-a-Ride certification in 2024 alone, with 8,000 filing to recertify. Qualifying New Yorkers with disabilities can take Access-a-Ride to travel through the city for the same price as a subway or bus fare, using the service’s blue-and-white vans or “broker services” contracted out to taxis or for-hire vehicles. Only about 30% of the subway system is considered accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act. All city buses are accessible, but they can be slow and do not provide a direct route over long distances.
The MTA says Access-a-Ride’s performance is currently on the upswing, with 800,000 rides logged in September. Access-a-Ride is expected to exceed pre-COVID ridership this year at over 9 million trips – with a 68% customer satisfaction rating.
Source: amNY
