A letter to MATAplus Riders about the New Functional Assessment Center
December 17, 2018
To MATAplus Customers:
Effective Tuesday, January 8, 2019, the
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) will open a new Functional Assessment
Center at the Airways Transit Center located at 3033 Airways Boulevard. When
this new Center opens next month, MATA will require all new and recertifying
applicants for MATAplus to complete an in-person interview and functional
assessment to qualify to use MATAplus at the new center. In addition, the
Center will also provide other helpful transportation information.
Once the new process begins, we will
distribute a revised application that addresses our new expectations. We will no longer accept applications by mail
effective January 8, 2019. Applications
will be submitted on the day you appear for the in-person interview. Additional instructions about the new process
will be included on the new applications which will be available online, at
MATA Transit Centers and other locations that provide services to the disabled community.
These new changes in service delivery
will raise MATA’s operational standards to meet the current industry best
practices and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the ADA Paratransit Eligibility
Regulations, transit agencies are mandated in the eligibility process to ensure
that only persons who meet specific criteria are eligible for paratransit
services (MATAplus). Since a disability alone does not determine paratransit eligibility, the
determination for eligibility is based on the applicant’s functional ability to
use the fixed-route bus and is not a medical
decision.
As a result of several
discussions with community representatives including those representing several
Memphis Disability Advisory committees, MATA is implementing the new
eligibility process that will best fit the overall needs of the community. It
is expected that the new Functional Assessment Center will help MATA provide an
improved and responsive service to customers with disabilities.
If there are any questions about the
Center or the new and recertification process, please call 901.722.7195 or email ridersfirst@matatransit.com.
Sincerely,
Anthony D. Amos
Anthony
D. Amos, MSHA, ACG
ADA
Compliance Officer (Certified ADA Coordinator)
3033
Airways Boulevard
Memphis,
TN 38131
901-722-7165 or aamos@matatransit.com
