| Irving Cure, General Manager |
Dutchess County Dial-A-Ride
Senior Citizen and Disabled Transportation System
Policy and Procedures
What is Dial-A-Ride?
Dial-A-Ride is a curb-to-curb transportation service, designed to serve senior citizens and individuals who have a physical or mental disability which prevents them from using the regular LOOP buses.
Who is Eligible?
In order to serve the special transportation needs of the elderly and disabled public, the service is offered only to those who need it. If an individual can use the regular LOOP bus service, that individual is not eligible for Dial-A-Ride service.
-
Be a resident of and have a trip origin in the following communities: Towns of Beekman, Dover, East Fishkill, Fishkill, Hyde Park, LaGrange, Pleasant Valley, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Union Vale, or Wappinger, or the City of Poughkeepsie.
To be eligible for Dial-A-Ride service, an individual must be 60+ years of age OR have a physical or mental disability, which makes it significantly difficult to do one or more of the following:
-
Walk more than 200 feet
-
Stand outside more than 10 minutes
-
Negotiate a flight of stairs
-
Get on or off a standard bus
-
Stand on a moving bus
-
Read information due to visual impairment, cognitive or learning disability
- Hear announcements by a bus driver
However, if a disability is a result of any of the following, an individual will not qualify for Dial-A-Ride service:
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Impairment due to use of drugs or alcohol
- Controlled epilepsy
- Any contagious disease
- Any disability which renders one potentially violent, so as to be dangerous to oneself or other passengers
Where does the service operate?
Dial-A-Ride service operates in the City of Poughkeepsie and the towns of Beekman, Dover, East Fishkill, Fishkill, Hyde Park, LaGrange, Pleasant Valley, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Union Vale and Wappinger according to schedule.
Identification Cards
In order to access Dial-A-Ride, an individual must have an identification card and number. The number identifies the individual as an eligible rider when he or she calls for a trip reservation. To determine eligibility, it is required that an individual fill out an application and return it to the address below. Dial-A-Ride staff will verify an individual's eligibility and notify each individual, by mail, as to their eligibility status. Eligibility due to disability will be verified via a Medical Doctor's note. If eligible for Dial-A-Ride service, an identification card and additional information on the Dial-A-Ride service will be forwarded, by mail, to the individual.
Mail applications to:
Dutchess County Division of Mass Transit
Dial-A-Ride
14 Commerce Street
Poughkeepsie NY 12603
(845) 452-7433 loopbus@co.dutchess.ny.us
Information provided on the application helps establish eligibility for the Dial-A-Ride service and compliance with mandated reporting requirements.
What are the Suggested Fares?
| |
Fare |
| one-way within a municipality |
$ .75 |
| round trip within a municipality |
$1.25 |
| one-way between municipalities |
$1.00 |
| round trip between municipalities |
$1.75 |
|
When schedule allows, drivers will allow up to three stops within a municipality per passenger with an additional charge of $0.75 each additional stop. |
Reservations
Passengers must plan activities so that reservations may be made ahead of time.
Passengers must call for reservations at 452-7433 as early as possible when in need of medical transportation. Dispatchers will accept reservations up to 30 days in advance and no later than 3 days before the desired date of service between the hours of 7:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. (You must have an approved application on file before making a reservation.) Call Dial-A-Ride for an application or fill out one online, print it, sign it and return the completed form to Dutchess County LOOP Bus System, 14 Commerce Street, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603. Passengers should schedule appointments before 2:30 pm, (earlier, wherever possible) due to the need for the bus to return to base by 4:00 pm.
* NOTE FOR RETURN TRIPS, PLEASE CALL 473-9340 *
To cancel a reservation, please call Dial-A-Ride as soon as possible before the scheduled trip.
When a ride is scheduled, passengers must tell the dispatcher exactly where they are going, including additional stops. The driver has a schedule to follow which cannot be changed.
Passengers are limited to a maximum four shopping bags or parcels.
On all shopping trips, passengers are to be advised of the time and location to meet for the return trip. Mall shopping lasts for three hours, while supermarket shopping lasts for two hours.
Passengers should wait inside their homes so that the dispatcher may call if there will be a delay.
Passengers should allow a 15 minute leeway in scheduled pick-up time. Be ready 15 minutes early, but be prepared to wait 15 minutes longer than the scheduled pick-up time.
Passengers should try to be patient, as drivers may be delayed due to road conditions.
Passengers should ask for help if assistance is needed to board or alight a vehicle. Drivers may not leave the bus unattended for any reason.
Passengers shall place fares in the fare box on their own. Those who are unable to do so may receive assistance from drivers. Passengers shall carry exact change. Drivers are not permitted to make change or accept tips.
Passengers who are dissatisfied with service, wish to express a concern, or make a suggestion should attempt to resolve the matter with Dial-A-Ride. Those matters that cannot be resolved with Dial-A-Ride may be brought to the attention of the Office for the Aging or the appropriate town/city Advisory Board representative. The office for the Aging telephone number is 486-2555. Names and phone numbers of Advisory Board representatives may be provided by the Office for the Aging.
Holidays
All major holidays will be observed. The Dial-A-Ride Advisory Board will have the option of declaring additional holidays.
Winter Cancellation Policy
Cancellations due to poor driving conditions will be announced on all local radio stations between 7:00 and 8:00 am.
If it is necessary to delay Dial-A-Ride service, all pick-ups scheduled before 11:00 am will be cancelled for the day.
If road conditions do not improve by 11:00 am, Dial-A-Ride service will be canceled for the remainder of the day. Local radio stations will announce the cancellation between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm.
Dial-A-Ride Advisory Board
The Dial-A-Ride Advisory Board works with the Office for the Aging, Dutchess County Mass Transportation, and community repreentatives to set policy and to address problems and concerns expressed by the program's passengers and drivers. A representative from Dutchess County Mass Transit attends meetings to provide technical assistance as required. The Advisory Board is chaired by the Office for the Aging's Aging Services Coordinator.
Participating Town Supervisors, the Mayor of Poughkeepsie, and Taconic Resources for Independence may appoint a representative to the Advisory Board.
Division of Mass Transportation
All operation policy decisions will be the sale responsibility of the Division of Mass Transit. The Office for the Aging and the Dial-A-Ride Advisory Committee will be consulted with, as appropriate, before any policy or service modification is enacted that may significantly impact the method or scope of services delivered.
| Dial-A-Ride Schedule |
| Municipality |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| City of Poughkeepsie |
|
|
|
|
|
Local, South Road,
South Road Malls,
Hudson Mall Plaza,
Adams, 44 Plaza,
Stop & Shop, & K-Mart |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
*Fishkill Only*
Wal-Mart &
Shop Rite |
|
2nd Tues.
of the Month |
|
|
|
| Town of Beekman |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fishkill (Wal-Mart) |
|
2nd Tues.
of the Month |
|
|
3rd Fri.
of the Month |
| Marshalls/44/Adams |
|
3rd Tues.
of the Month |
|
|
1st Fri. following 1st Tues. of the Month
|
| South Road Malls |
|
2nd Tues. of the Month |
|
|
2nd Fri. following 2nd Tues. of the Month |
|
|
4th Tues. of the Month |
|
|
4th Fri. following 4th Tues. of the Month |
|
|
Extra Tues. of the Month |
|
|
Extra
Fri. of the Month |
| Town of Dover |
|
|
|
|
|
Poughkeepsie
& Fishkill |
|
1st &
3rd Tues.
of the Month
|
|
|
|
| Local |
|
2nd & 4th Tues.
of the Month
|
|
|
|
| Town of East Fishkill |
|
|
|
|
|
| Local |
|
|
|
|
|
| Beacon |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fishkill |
|
|
|
|
|
Poughkeepsie &
South Rd. Malls |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rt. 9 Fishkill to 9 Mall |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rt. 44/Adams |
|
|
|
|
|
| Town of Fishkill |
|
|
|
|
|
| Local |
|
|
|
|
|
| Beacon |
|
|
|
|
|
| Adams |
|
Last Tues.
of the Month |
|
|
|
Poughkeepsie &
South Rd Malls |
|
2nd, 3rd, &
4th Tues.
of the Month
|
|
|
|
| Town of Hyde Park |
|
|
|
|
|
Local & City/Town
of Poughkeepsie |
|
|
|
|
|
| South Road Malls |
|
|
2nd & 4th Wed.
of the Month |
|
|
*Fishkill Only*
Wal-Mart &
Shop Rite |
|
|
|
|
1st Fri.
of the Month |
| Town of LaGrange |
|
|
|
|
|
Local, Poughkeepsie,
Hopewell |
1st, 2nd, &
4th Mon.
of the Month |
|
|
|
|
| Fishkill |
|
|
|
3rd Thurs.
of the Month |
|
| Pleasant Valley |
|
|
|
|
|
| Town of Pleasant Valley |
|
|
|
|
|
| South Road Malls |
|
|
2nd & 4th Wed.
of the Month |
|
|
| Local & Poughkeepsie |
|
|
|
|
|
| Town of Poughkeepsie - South |
|
|
|
|
|
Local & City of
Poughkeepsie |
|
North only |
|
|
|
*Fishkill Only*
Wal-Mart &
Shop Rite |
|
1st Tues.
of the Month |
|
|
|
| Town of Poughkeepsie - North |
|
|
|
|
|
| Local |
|
|
|
|
|
| Price Choppers |
2nd, 3rd, &
4th Mon.
of the Month |
|
|
|
|
|
South Road Malls |
|
|
2nd & 4th Wed.
of the Month |
|
|
*Fishkill Only*
Wal-Mart &
Shop Rite |
1st Mon.
of the Month |
|
|
|
|
| Town of Red Hook |
|
|
|
|
|
Red Hook &
Rhinebeck |
|
|
|
|
|
| Town of Union Vale |
|
|
|
|
|
| Local |
|
|
|
|
|
| Town of Wappinger |
|
|
|
|
|
| Local |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poughkeepsie &
South Rd. Malls |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fishkill |
|
|
|
|
|
| Castle Point |
|
|
|
|
|
| 
