Yes. Effective October 1, 2019, door-to-door service is performed for every trip for which the driver can do so. However, the driver cannot assist through the door into a home or building, and the driver must always maintain the sight of his or her vehicle.

Door-to-door service DOES NOT include any of the following:

• Assisting passengers on unsafe or steeply inclined mobility ramps or stairs
• Entering beyond the door threshold
• Locking/unlocking doors or activating/deactivating house alarms
• Loading/unloading personal items (except as provided for in the above section of this guide, HOW MANY PACKAGES CAN I BRING ON THE VEHICLE?)
  

Out-of-town visitors, who are ADA eligible in their home city or have an apparent disability, can use DART Paratransit Services for up to 21 days in a 365 day period. Visitors must contact the Paratransit Services Certification Office, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at 214-828-6717. Once this is done, reservations can be made up to 2 days in advance, Monday through Wednesday, and up to 4 days in advance on Thursday and Friday.

Carry-on packages are limited to 2 grocery bags or similar-sized packages onboard Paratransit vehicles. Drivers can help a rider carry two packages, if needed. Packages should weigh no more than 20 pounds each.

All of DART's Paratransit vehicles have seatbelts installed and it is DART's policy for all riders to wear seatbelts while riding a Paratransit vehicle.

Riders who refuse to wear a seatbelt onboard Paratransit services vehicles will not be transported. If you are being traveling with a child that requires a car seat or a booster seat under Texas law, the child must be secured in the car seat or booster seat on board a DART Paratransit vehicle. It is the rider's responsibility to bring a car or booster seat, if needed. DART Paratransit will not provide a car or booster seat. For safety reasons, drivers will not transport a child without one. If you are traveling with a child and you will need to bring a car seat, please inform the reservations agent when you call to schedule a trip. The rider will be responsible for securing the car seat or booster seat.

Personal Care Attendant
A personal care attendant can accompany a registered Paratransit rider at no additional charge. Your file must indicate that you are eligible to have a personal care attendant travel with you, and you must reserve space for the attendant when scheduling your trip.

Guests
Guests are welcome to ride with you for $3.00 one-way per trip. Due to limited space, each rider is allowed one guest per trip. You must reserve space for your guest, whether adult or child, when scheduling your trip. Seating for more than one guest is on a "space available" basis when scheduling your trips. Children age 5 and under travel free and must be accompanied by an adult.

Service Animals
Guide dogs and other service animals are permitted on all DART vehicles and are allowed to accompany you if this need is indicated in your file. When scheduling a trip, please inform Paratransit Reservations if a service animal will be accompanying you on the trip.

Individuals using mobility aids belonging to any class of three-or-more-wheeled devices, usable indoors, designed or modified for and used by individuals with mobility impairments, whether operated manually or powered, will be transported. The only exception is, if the combined weight of the mobility aid/occupant exceeds that of the lift/ramp specifications or if carriage of the device is demonstrated to be inconsistent with legitimate safety requirements.

Securement on Boarding
Paratransit Services will make all attempts to secure mobility aids. The driver may ask the rider to transfer to a seat, as it may be difficult to safely secure the passenger within the mobility device. However, it is the rider's choice whether to transfer or remain in his or her mobility device.

A missed trip is defined as a trip that arrives after the end of the 20-minute pickup window and does not transport the rider, either because the rider is not at the location or declines to take the trip because it is now late.

If your vehicle fails to arrive to pick you up within 59 minutes after the beginning of your ready time window, you are eligible to receive a coupon reimbursement. Call Mobility Management Services at 214-828-6736 (between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday) to request coupon reimbursement. Please provide your name, your Paratransit ID number and the date of your trip. Once the late trip information is validated, a coupon for the trip will be mailed to you within 10 working days following your telephone request.

If the vehicle has not arrived by the end of your 20-minute ready-time window, you may call Paratransit at 214-515-PARA (7272) to check on your vehicle status. Riders can also check online to see where the vehicle is located at www.DART.org/RidePara. The online tool will also allow you to cancel a trip as well as look at your trips for the next day. Please note, you will not see a vehicle number or an estimated time of arrival until shortly before your scheduled pick up time.

Riders are expected to be ready to board the vehicle upon its arrival. Paratransit drivers will wait 5 minutes for a rider to board the vehicle when arriving within the 20-minute ready-time window. When your vehicle arrives, you are required to present your Paratransit ID and the exact fare (change cannot be given) or a valid coupon. Please note: The driver cannot take you to your requested destination without the required fare.

If a rider does not board the vehicle within the 5-minute wait time, the driver will mark the rider as a No-Show and will depart the location.

Riders will receive a telephone call shortly before your vehicle is expected to arrive. Just before or at arrival, the driver will call you directly to ensure you are ready to go. Please make sure you provide a contact number for all trips. For example, if you are at the grocery store, your home telephone number or the grocery store number will not work for that trip. A cell phone number works best, if you have one.