[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”content” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.3″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.3″][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/saskatchewanhumanrights.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/SHRC_Provincial-Paratransit-Standards.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”View\/download this information as a PDF file” admin_label=”View\/download this information as a PDF file Button” module_class=”pdf-btn” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=”Background” _builder_version=”4.3.3″ custom_margin=”||||false|false”]<\/p>\n
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission has a history of working to remove barriers to public transportation for people with disabilities. This includes access to taxi services, conventional transit, and paratransit.<\/p>\n
In 2013, the Commission identified the limited availability of public transportation as an issue that perpetuates inequity for historically marginalized and vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n
Since that time, the Commission has worked with service providers in Saskatchewan\u2019s largest cities, Regina and Saskatoon, to establish equivalent, comparable, and accessible transportation services.<\/p>\n
Further to the work of the Commission, several members of the provincial paratransit operators\u2019 group from larger municipalities spoke of the need for clear province-wide standards for paratransit service. As a result of this discussion, these service providers created a draft set of standards.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Province-Wide Standards” _builder_version=”4.3.3″ custom_margin=”||||false|false”]<\/p>\n
In 2016, the Commission met with provincial paratransit service providers at their annual meeting. At that event, 5 targets for equitable service were presented. These guidelines received initial support and were later improved by incorporating feedback from service providers.<\/p>\n
A revised version of the standards was circulated to all 78 recipients of the Transit Assistance for People with Disabilities (TAPD) program. Feedback on compliance was received from approximately 20% of the municipalities. The responses from a diverse group of municipalities, including, but not restricted to Swift Current, Yorkton, the Town of Whitewood, Saskatoon and Regina were largely positive.<\/p>\n
The majority of municipalities reported they were fully compliant; others indicated partial compliance but indicated that steps were being taken towards full compliance.<\/p>\n
As part of the feedback process, TAPD representatives offered statistical information that provided context for the standards, including the number of properties that are part of the TAPD program, fleet size, and total number of accessible units active within the province.<\/p>\n
There are also municipalities in the province that operate paratransit services but do not participate in the TAPD program. These standards were further discussed at the 2018 Provincial Paratransit meeting in the context of implementation, and no additional feedback was received.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Using the Provincial Standards” _builder_version=”4.3.3″ custom_margin=”||||false|false”]<\/p>\n
It is anticipated that municipalities and\/or service providers will adopt the standards for their paratransit service. The TAPD program will support the adoption of the standards by sharing the standards with TAPD program participants and collecting statistics on trip denials as defined by the standards for program purposes. These statistics will help inform the TAPD program.<\/p>\n
As municipalities and service providers begin to use the guidelines for identifying and tracking trip denials they can begin to identify and implement any necessary adjustments to their paratransit services to reach the goal of accommodating 99% of service requests.<\/p>\n
The standards will also provide a benchmark for accessible transportation throughout the province. The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission will use these guidelines when assessing the provision of accessible public transportation.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”The Provincial Paratransit Standards” _builder_version=”4.3.3″ custom_margin=”||||false|false”]<\/p>\n
1. Trips that are requested after 12:00 noon for the next day, and same-day trip requests, will be accommodated to the best of the service provider\u2019s ability, but will not be considered a denial if they cannot be accommodated.<\/p>\n
2. Trips that are requested before 12:00 noon the day prior to the trip, but that cannot be initially accommodated, will be placed on a standby list. These trip requests will be accommodated if an opening occurs. If they cannot be accommodated, they will be counted as a denial.<\/p>\n
3. Multiple requests for the same trip that cannot be accommodated will only be counted as one denial. A one-way trip shall be counted as one denial and a two-way trip as two denials. <\/p>\n
The <\/em>one-way trip would only be counted as one denial<\/em> even though the person has called in multiple times for the same trip.<\/em><\/p>\n 4. When a specific appointment or arrival time is disclosed by the customer, a time of no more than 90 minutes prior to the appointment time can be offered otherwise it will be counted as a denial (unless the customer requests an earlier time).<\/p>\n 5. Subscription trip requests that cannot be accommodated will not be counted as a denial because the customer will be required to book these trips on an ongoing daily basis where the denials will be recorded on a per trip basis.<\/p>\n Goal: <\/strong>The goal of the above standards is to accommodate 99% of all trips requested before 12:00 noon the day prior to the trip being taken.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”contact-row nospace” _builder_version=”4.3.3″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.3.3″][et_pb_blurb use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%249%%” icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Address” _builder_version=”4.3.3″]<\/p>\n Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission<\/strong> [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.3.3″][et_pb_blurb use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%264%%” icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Phone” _builder_version=”4.3.3″ custom_margin=”||5px||false|false”]<\/p>\n Phone<\/strong> 306-933-5952<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%269%%” icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Toll Free” _builder_version=”4.3.3″ custom_margin=”||5px||false|false”]<\/p>\n Toll Free<\/strong> 1-800-667-9249<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%238%%” icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Email” _builder_version=”4.3.3″]<\/p>\n\n
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\nP.O. Box 6011
\nSaskatoon SK S7K 4E4<\/p>\n