Key Takeaway: It is challenging for paratransit agencies to coordinate trips that involves crossing county lines. Regional trips sometimes require riders to make multiple transfers between service providers, leading to an unpleasant transit experience. The SFMTA should pursue opportunities to improve efficiency and customer experience during regional trips, including to and from San Francisco International Airport.
Cost-Sharing Agreements
The SFMTA has cost-sharing agreements with regional transit agencies to enhance paratransit service. Since 1999, SF Paratransit and East Bay Paratransit have shared costs for trips between their service areas, allowing seamless travel without vehicle transfers. Since 1994, the SFMTA has had an agreement with BART to provide ADA Paratransit services for all trips within San Francisco, with BART covering approximately 7.9% of SF Paratransit costs plus a 4.7% administrative fee.
Paratransit To and From SFO Airport
Paratransit customers do not currently have uninterrupted paratransit to San Francisco from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and vice versa. This is because SFO is not in the City and County of San Francisco and therefore is not within Muni's or SF Paratransit's jurisdiction.
Paratransit customers who need to get to and from the airport can either use BART, take a two-part van ride with SF Paratransit and San Mateo's Redi-Wheels, or take a taxi through the SF Paratransit Taxi program. Taking a paratransit taxi requires splitting the fare at the city's border since SF Paratransit fare programs do not cover fares outside the city.
One Seat/One Ride Pilot
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)’s Transit Transformation Action Plan calls for funding subregional one-seat paratransit ride pilots and developing cost-sharing policies for cross jurisdictional paratransit trips.
The intent of a One Seat Ride or “OSR” pilot program is to focus on ADA paratransit trips that currently require transfers. The pilot would provide transfer-free rides across existing transit operator service-area boundaries. OSR service should be shared-ride service to the extent possible.
Since multiple paratransit providers would no longer need to coordinate transfer, riders would receive more convenient service while operators (in theory) could achieve cost savings or, at least, avoid incurring added costs. MTC has received a $350,000 grant from the state to analyze the best methods of providing a non-transfer, cross-jurisdictional ADA paratransit ride.