MetroAccess Paratransit – Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
MetroAccess is a shared-ride, door-to-door public transportation service for people who are unable to use fixed-route public transit due to disability.” Shared ride” means that multiple passengers may ride together in the same vehicle. The service provides daily trips throughout the Transit Zone in the Washington Metropolitan region. The Transit Zone consists of the District ofColumbia, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland, Arlingtonnd Fairfax Counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Churchin Northern Virginia. Rides are offered in the same service areas and duringthe same hours of operation as Metrorail and Metrobus. MetroAccess is aservice of the WMATA (Metro) and is the region’s complementary paratransit service offered in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Please note only MetroAccess customers who are conditionally eligible can ride free on Metrobus andMetrorail. Fully eligible customers do not have this benefit because they have been determined not to be able to independently use the bus or train due to the severity of their disability and/or functionality. Conditionally eligible customers are those that have the SmarTrip® enabled MetroAccess ID.
To be eligible for MetroAccess: You must be at least 5 years old AND have a disability as defined by the ADA, AND be unable, as a result of your disability, to utilize fixed-route transportation such as Metrobus or Metrorail, OR need to use a ramp or wheelchair lift to board or exit a public transit vehicle, but an accessible public transit vehicle is not being used at the time, date, and on the route you would travel (all Metrobuse sare wheelchair accessible), OR be unable to travel to or from a bus stop or rail station due to a disability.
• Individuals must complete an application and have it certified by a health care professional

• Applicants must be determined to be unable to use the accessible bus and rail systems some or all o fthe time due to their disability.

Assessments are done by appointment only. Assessment testing forMetroAccess is located at the Metro Transit Accessibility Center – 600 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC,20001. MetroAccess will provide transportation to the interview free of charge and will arrange pick-up for this appointment. You also have the option of providing your own transportation should you choose.

• MetroAccess is a shared ride service so trips may take up to 50% longer than those that are not
shared. MetroAccess provides a fully accessible paratransit van fleet.

• Customers on time-specific travel, be it a medical appointment, work, movie start time, etc., are
encouraged to book their trips by appointment time. Also, for regular time-essential trips like work,
customers are being encouraged to establish a subscription service.

• Fares are two times the fastest comparable fixed-route fare, with a maximum fare of $6.50 per
one-way trip. The lowest available fare 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the requested pick-up
time will be provided during the booking process. Customers are required to pay the fare to the driver
prior to boarding the vehicle. Exact fare is required. Drivers do not carry or make change.

• Full and exact payment of MetroAccess fares is required for all trips. Payment should be pre-paid
through EZ-Pay or presented in exact change, without request, to MetroAccess operators before a
customer or their PCA and/or companions board the vehicle.

• MetroAccess operates 7 days a week, 365 days a year, providing service within a three-quarter mile
corridor around existing fixed-route services such as Metrobus, Metrorail, and jurisdictional bus
services, at least during all hours of operation that service is operated on these modes.

• Trips may be scheduled up to 7 days in advance but no later than 4:30 p.m. one day before the trip (no
same day reservations). If all vehicles are full at the time you want to travel, the reservation agent will
work with you to select another time. (See Same-Day-Access Program for Certified MetroAccess users
on page 21 for same day service.) Registered MetroAccess customers may also use the internet to
book, cancel, or review trips.

• Customers are expected to cancel trips at least two hours before the beginning of their pick-up window.
Trips not cancelled within two hours are subject to the no-show late cancellation policy.
Photo courtesy WMAT13
• Eligible users can use paratransit throughout the United States with advance reservations when on travel
for up to 21 days per year. To regularly use other Paratransit services in other parts of the state, persons need to get certified by that local provider.
Main Line:……………………………………………………………………………………….. 301-562-5360 (V)
Reservations:………………………………………………………………………………….. 301-562-5360 (V), Option #1
Eligibility:………………………………………………………………………………………… 301-562-5360 (V), Option #8
www.wmata.com/service/accessibility/metro-access  E-mail: eligbility@wmata.com