Abstract
Ensuring equitable access to transportation services is critical for supporting the mobility needs of seniors and people with disabilities. In Contra Costa County, California, these populations face significant challenges in finding and using reliable and accessible transit—on demand microtransit services such as paratransit, and other multi-passenger/pooled shuttles or vans—due to the lack of a centralized up-to-date, customer-oriented informational system. These problems are compounded by the difficulties of arranging travel to multiple locations or scheduling trips with different mobility service providers (including paratransit agencies, community-based transit programs, and volunteer drivers programs).
To better understand the challenges faced by mobility-challenged individuals, the research team conducted a comprehensive examination of the existing accessible transit services in Contra Costa County. The research identified critical gaps and deficiencies that hinder the provision of efficient accessible transit services. The research team facilitated stakeholder meetings, consulted with organizations that provide or arrange accessible transit services, and conducted individual surveys to gather detailed insights into how critical data can best be collected, aggregated, disseminated and used to mitigate mobility barriers.
