Mobility  >  ADA Paratransit (RIDES)

ADA Paratransit (RIDES)

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MST RIDES ADA PARATRANSIT PROGRAM

Transportation Services for People With Disabilities

In cooperation with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Monterey-Salinas Transit offers the MST RIDES ADA paratransit program to our customers who have a disability that prevents them from using MST's regular fixed route bus service.Each of MST's regular fixed-route buses is fully accessible and each is equipped with a wheelchair lift. If you believe that you are unable to use MST's regular buses due to your disability, you may be eligible for the MST RIDES ADA paratransit program.  

MST RIDES ADA PARATRANSIT SERVICE DESCRIPTION

The MST ADA paratransit program (RIDESoffers transportation service to eligible passengers as a ride-share program.  Below is a brief summary of the RIDES program.  A complete description can be found in the MST RIDES Passenger Guide. (English/Spanish) 

Reservation requests may be made in advance until 5:00 PM daily for next day service or may be made up to 7 days in advance of the day of the trip. There are no restrictions on the purpose of the trip.Based on vehicle availability, MST RIDES ADA paratransit may need to schedule your trip within one hour of your requested pick-up time.

Service Area: MST RIDES ADA paratransit service is provided within a service corridor that extends three-quarters of a mile from any of MST's regular bus routes. Both the point of departure and the destination of each trip must be within a service corridor.MST RIDES ADA paratransit provides service throughout the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Salinas, Chualar, Gonzales, Greenfield, Soledad, and King City, and to the Watsonville Transit Center.

Service Hours: MST RIDES ADA paratransit service is available during the hours of operation of MST's regular fixed-route bus service operating within that corridor.  MST's regular fixed route schedule is subject to change.

Passenger Travel Times

Federal Department of Transportation regulations pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 require passenger travel time on the MST RIDES Paratransit service be comparable to that of MST's regular fixed-route bus service for the same trip.  While most travel times are shorter with the RIDES service, MST strives to ensure that your travel time on RIDES will not exceed the travel time for the same trip on MST's fixed-route service, which would include:

  • Walking time to the stop/station from the origin address
  • Waiting time
  • In-vehicle time (for all trip segments)
  • Transfer times (if any)
  • Walking time from the final stop/station to the destination address

Personal Care Attendant(PCA) and Companions –  If you need assistance before, during, or after the trip, a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) may ride for free.  PCA must board and disembark at the same locations as the RIDES customer. It is the responsibility of the customer to identify their designated PCA to the RIDES driver. The RIDES driver cannot act as or assume the function of a PCA. In addition to the customer's designated PCA, one other individual shall be allowed to accompany an MST RIDES customer as a companion on a per-trip basis, provided that the individual has the same origin and destination as the RIDES customer.

Additional companions may accompany the customer on their trip if adequate space is available for themon the vehicle and as long as each companion has the same origin and destination as the RIDES customer.  To ensure that there is adequate space for any additional companion(s) on an MST RIDES vehicle, customers must notify the MST RIDES dispatch of the number of companion(s) that are expected to accompany the customer on the trip. Each request for service for additional companion(s) will be considered on an individual basis dependent upon available space.  All companion(s) shall be required to pay full RIDES fare.

RIDES customers  must present a valid picture ID each time they board a RIDES vehicle.

Fare change effective December 10, 2022.

Fares – Exact Fare Required

$2.00 One-way trip

Accepted form of payment upon boarding:  Cash or Tickets

Ticket Books

Book of 30 $.50 tickets ($15.00)
Book of 30 $1.00 tickets ($30.00)

Ticket books may be purchased from MST customer service locations:

  • Marina Transit Exchange, 280 Reservation Rd., Marina
  • Bus Stop Shop, 201 Pearl Street, Monterey
  • Salinas Transit Center, 110 Salinas St., Salinas

By Phone: Toll-Free 1-888-MST-BUS1 TTY 1-831-393-8111

By Mail: MST RIDES Tickets
              Bus Stop Shop, 201 Pearl Street, Monterey, CA 93940
              (Visa & MasterCard accepted)

Online: https://www.mst.org/about-mst/mst-store/

COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES 

While these services are not part of the ADA Paratransit program (RIDES), they are made available to RIDES-certified customers to provide increased opportunities to meet their transportation needs.

MST RIDES SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION (ST) SERVICES

Limited service is available in parts of unincorporated North and South Monterey County, which are outside MST's ADA service area, for the purpose of traveling into the ADA service area.  Once inside the ADA service area, certified RIDES customers may take full advantage of the RIDES program.  For ST program and fare information call 1-888-MST-BUS1. (Current fare is $2.00)

MST RIDES TAXI VOUCHER PROGRAM

MST has established a taxi voucher program for persons with disabilities in accessing important locations within their local communities.

If you are disabled and certified by the MST ADA paratransit program, you may qualify for taxi vouchers that can be used in the City of Salinas or on the Monterey Peninsula. Voucher holders must possess a photo ID from a government agency to redeem a voucher with an authorized taxi operator.

Qualified persons can obtain information about the MST taxi voucher program by calling MST customer service or visiting here.

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Interpreter 888-678-2871 / Free language assistance / Asistencia de Lenguaje Gratuito / Libreng tulong para sa wika / Hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí / 무료언어 지원

MST ADA Paratransit Program (RIDES)

MST ADA Paratransit Program (RIDES)
Click to Watch

Learn how MST’s ADA Paratransit Service (RIDES) has benefited individuals who cannot use MST’s fixed-route buses for at least some of their trips. 

Applying for RIDES

After watching the video and reading the accompanying article, if you want to apply for RIDES and believe you qualify, the forms you will need to apply are found below.  One form is for you to complete and the other is for your California-licensed health care provider.  Please print an application and return the completed and signed application to MST. Be sure to read the Application Instructions carefully before beginning the application process.

 
Image of Icon RIDES Application MST RIDES
Application
(English)
 
Image of Icon RIDES Application MST RIDES
Application
(Korean)
 
Image of Icon RIDES Application MST RIDES
Application
(Spanish)
 
Image of Icon RIDES Application MST RIDES
Application
(Tagalog)
 
Image of Icon RIDES Application MST RIDES
Application
(Vietnamese)
 
Image of Icon Application MST RIDES
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