Paratransit service is available for people with disabilities who are unable to utilize Grand Valley Transit (GVT) fixed route system. Only people who have been verified as eligible to use paratransit may use this service. The GVT Paratransit service is a curb-to-curb service only. Customers requiring additional help may have a Personal Care Aide travel with them at no cost.

ELIGIBILITY

To qualify for paratransit service, a Paratransit Eligibility Application must be completed. This form is available by:

Please allow 3 weeks for GVT to process your paratransit applications. Applications will not be deemed complete until the professional verification is received and the customer interview is scheduled. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

HOURS

hours.png Paratransit trips are available during the same hours as the fixed route that serves that area. See Routes and Schedules for hours of operation for each route.

SCHEDULING

Paratransit rides must be scheduled in by 6:00 pm of the day prior. Schedulers are on duty Monday through Saturday between the hours of 7:00 am and 6:00 pm, except on holidays when GVT is not offering service.  Requests outside of those hours may be made by leaving a voicemail.

Paratransit rides can be scheduled by:

  • Calling GVT at (970) 256-7433 (RIDE), extension 2
  • Emailing paratransit@mesacounty.us between 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
  • Para transit rides can be scheduled two weeks to the day before the ride is needed on a space available basis.

Scheduling Parameters

  • Ride requests: According to the FTA, when a paratransit rider requests a pick-up or drop-off time, the agency may offer a time up to one hour before or one hour after the requested time, with consideration of rider’s travel needs.

For example, if a rider requests a 9 a.m. pickup time, the regulations permit the agency to offer a pickup time between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. If the rider confirms the offered time, this becomes the negotiated trip time.

  • Negotiated trip times: Once the rider and the agency have negotiated a trip time, the full trip will be scheduled with pick-up and drop-off times.

  • Pick-up and Drop-off times: When scheduling by appointment time, the FTA states that a rider may request either a pick-up time or a drop-off time for a given trip, but not both.
    • The driver may arrive anytime within a thirty-minute window. This window may be from 15 minutes before and after a negotiated pick-up time.
    • However, when scheduling a ride for a medical appointment, for example, the window can be 30 minutes before a negotiated time, to ensure that the rider arrives on time for their medical appointment.

Please note: If a rider, due to their disability, cannot be dropped-off without supervision by a caretaker, a caretaker must be present to receive the rider during the thirty-minute drop-off window.

PARATRANSIT SERVICE AREA

Paratransit service is provided within ¾ miles of the fixed route-service.

If your origin or destination is outside the paratransit service area shown, eligible paratransit passengers may meet GVT paratransit buses within the service area to utilize paratransit service.

para transit service area map.png (click to enlarge map)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Cost
The cost per one way trip is $3.00.  Personal care attendants ride free.  Additional guests may accompany the rider if space is available, at a cost of $3.00 per one way trip.  

Service Animals
Individuals will be permitted to use service animals, as defined within ADA guidelines as necessary.

Unattended Passengers
The FTA Circular 4710.1 clarifies that drivers are not intended to act as a Personal Care Attendant for passengers, “such that he or she must remain in their physical presence at all times.”

Policy on Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
See our Policy on Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (PDF) regarding paratransit service.

Statement of Rights
See Statement of Rights page for information regarding the ADA Act, reasonable modifications, alternate formats of documents and the process to file a complaint.