MetroAccess DC

I wrote a post over the summer about DC's program, MetroAccess, where car transportation is provided for patrons who are incapable of using public transportation for one reason or another. It's riddled with problems. And just now, I read another story on another lapse in the system.

The story of her eight-hour journey to and from the doctor's office reflects the frustrations of many disabled people who rely on MetroAccess, the publicly funded curb-to-curb van service for people not able to ride the bus or subway: Rides arrive at the wrong time or not at all, drivers get lost, and reservationists give contradictory information.

Many riders say the continuing service problems leave them physically and emotionally exhausted.

In McKee's case, several errors by a new company that is providing MetroAccess service piled up over the course of the day, stranding her at the Silver Spring office building as day turned to night and the staff prepared to lock up.

McKee, whose worst fear is to be stuck by herself in an unfamiliar neighborhood at night, began to panic. Her doctor, Pamela Randolph, worried that McKee might faint. She gave her some juice and crackers. Then, after waiting two hours for a MetroAccess ride that never appeared, the doctor drove her home.

To summarize, she was supposed to pick her up at Noon for a 1p appointment. Driver showed up at 12.37p and got her to the office very late after the driver took initially took her to the wrong destination. She had a 4p pickup and couldn't be seen until after 3p. She rescheduled the pickup for 5.30p. She was done at 5.15p and waited outside, for two hours. She was told, allegedly, to "find another way home" as the driver had left for the day. She was ultimately driven home by her doctor. Luckily she was somewhere familiar and got home safely.

Chroist.

I know Philly has a similar program, CCT Connect. I have seen their vans/buses all over the place. I haven't read any horror stories in the papers like the two in the WaPo.

Comments

[Marisa]

I don't think that CCT has the same level of disfunction. I have a friend who works at an adult day center in the area, and most of her participants arrive and are taken home each day on CCT. I haven't heard her voice any complaints about it.