Persons with Disabilities Transportation

What is Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
EMTA, with the financial support from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is providing Shared-ride Transportation Service to People with Disabilities. Shared-ride paratransit service is available to individuals with a disability, and do not have another source of transportation, at reduced fares.

Who Qualifies for PwD Service? In general the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the guiding force in eligibility determination. It defines a disability in this manner:

"Disability means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment."

The ADA further defines “major life activities" as functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. If you feel you qualify for ADA transportation, please contact EMTA at 1-800-242-3484 for an application.

How to apply for Persons with Disabilities Service
To be eligible for this service an individual must fill out a Persons with Disabilities eligibility form and will need to produce documentation as to the nature of their disability from a qualified professional.

A doctor or a health care professional could make this determination. In addition, caseworkers or agencies such as the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) Mental Health/Mental Retardation Agency (MH/MR) or Pennsylvania Attendant Care Program could provide information to support an eligibility determination.

If you do not have proof of your disability EMTA has a certificate of disability that you may take to a qualified professional and return with your completed application.

If you have worked with one of the following individuals/agencies, and have been determined to have a disability meeting the ADA definition, you will likely be eligible for transportation services. You would need to submit a copy of a document from them that describes, and certifies your disability along with your application:

Office of Vocational Physical/Occupational Rehabilitation (OVR)
Registered Therapist
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
Physician/Ophthalmologist
Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program (MH/MR)
PA Attendant Care Program
United Cerebral Palsy
Community services Program for Persons with Physical Disabilities

Individuals who qualify for Federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD) would be considered to have a disability and may be found eligible by providing us with a copy of their SSDI Card.

Other qualifying Information Related to PwD
The PwD eligibility is not an income based program. However, individuals are required to report income information in order to have your application approved. This information is used to determine if the applicant is eligible for other transportation programs.

The PwD program is meant to address unmet transportation needs of people with disabilities, not to replace current funding programs. If passengers have or are eligible for other fund sources, EMTA must provide transportation using that alternate funding source.

EMTA offers several transportation programs.

MATP (Medical Assistance Transportation)
HSDF (Human Service Development Funds)
Access to Work
Senior 65+ Pennsylvania Lottery
Blue Bus Fixed route transportation

Passengers who live on or near the Blue Bus fixed route will be required to use that service if their trip origin and destination is along the fixed route. Passengers who may have trips that do not begin or end on the fixed route may be required to transfer to and from shared ride vehicles at transfer locations to complete their trip. EMTA customer service is available for trip planning. Call 1-800-242-3484or570-888-7330.

Cost of PwD Transportation
The PwD Fares range from $2.00 to $6.00 depending on mileage. Service is available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

How to make your reservation with PwD
Once registered for the program, passengers can call our office to make reservations for transportation. Passengers must call the office by9a.m. the business day prior to the day they want to travel. EMTA can take trip reservations up to four weeks in advance. EMTA also offers standing appointments. The service allows passengers who have trips that follow a fixed pattern the option not to have to call trips in one daily basis. They only need to call should their trip change or need to be canceled.

How to cancel your trip
Passengers are required to cancel their trips at least one hour prior to the arrival of the driver. If you call EMTA later than 1 hour before your scheduled pickup or do not call us at all, your trip will be considered "no show." No shows disrupt service to other customers because vehicle that could have been picking up someone else must travel for someone who does not ride. Excessive "no shows" also increase the cost of service as EMTA must pay the cost of having a vehicle and driver in-service, without receiving any revenue. These costs must be passed onto trips that are taken. Excessive no shows will result in penalties tithe rider.