WHEREAS, SEPTA's Customized Community Transportation or CCT, is designed to provide door-to-door paratransit service to senior citizens and adults with disabilities, which may include those with intellectual challenges, autism and mental health conditions; and
WHEREAS, CCT services are provided by contract carriers within the City of Philadelphia and each suburban county. Carriers provide rides to customers, train drivers and maintain vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Families, service providers as well as the individual riders rely on CCT for transportation to doctor's appointments, adult day care programs, shopping and other critical needs, for successful functioning in daily life; and
WHEREAS, CCT riders have been dropped off at unsecure and unknown locations and left for hours with no way to return home, thus violating the provision of door-to-door service; and
WHEREAS, CCT's availability and consistency with regard to pick up and drop off times is unreliable and often burdensome for families attempting to help disabled adults utilize this service. Two hour timeframes for pick-ups and drop offs are not unusual; and
WHEREAS, CCT's inconsistent service has had negative financial impacts for organizations, professionals and programs attempting to providing services to CCT riders, such as adult day care, training and medical treatment; and
WHEREAS, The demand for customized community transportation is only likely to increase due to a federal mandate for moving individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism out into the community; and
WHEREAS, Public transportation services, such as CCT, are critical for the most vulnerable members of our community and should be made available in an equal, fair and reliable manner; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings concerning the adequacy, safety and consistency of SEPTA's CCT system which provides paratransit services to individuals with disabilities and senior citizens.
End