|
RETURN
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
(AWTS)
Area Wide Transportation Service
711 Jersey Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
73-296-1644
1. INTRODUCTION
2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION (OFFICE HOURS,
RESERVATIONS, CANCELLATIONS, TRANSPORTATION SERVICE)
3. TRANSPORTATION PARAMETERS
4. INFORMATION NEEDED TO REGISTER
5. INFORMATION NEEDED
TO SCHEDULE TRANSPORTATION
6. CANCELLATIONS
7. EMERGENCY CANCELLATIONS
8. PASSENGER RESPONSIBILITIES
9. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITIES
10. SPECIAL TRIPS
11. FARES
12. NO SERVICE DAYS
13. COMPLAINTS AND COMMENDATIONS
14. TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
Introduction
Providing services to our residents is the
primary goal of county government. Middlesex County government takes great
pride in our services to the senior and/or disabled population. One of the
most needed services is transportation to shopping, medical visits, etc.
In 1998, over 199,000 trips were provided, including competitive employment
subscription rides, non-competitive employment trips, and individual
call-in-rides throughout the county.
The information in this booklet will enable you o
use Area Wide Transportation when necessary and to know what information to
provide to assist the staff in proper scheduling.
Please read the enclosed information and if you
still have questions, call the number in the booklet.
The Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders
hopes this service enhances your quality of life and will continue to meet your
needs in the future.
Important
Information
Office
Days:
Monday - Friday
Hours: 8:30 am -
4:15 pm
Telephone: (732) 296-1644
Fax:
(732) 296-0320
Reservations
Days:
Monday - Friday
Hours: 7:15am - 4pm
Telephone: 1-800-221-3520
TTY/TTD: (732) 296-0168
Cancellations
Days:
Monday - Friday
Hours: 7:15am - 7 pm
Telephone: 1-800-221-3520
After Hours: (732) 296 - 1644 Leave a message on the answering
machine.
Transportation Service
Days:
Monday - Friday
Hours: First pick up
8:00am - Last return pick up: 3:30 pm (Limited service from 3:30pm - 10:00pm)
Transportation
Parameters:
Transportation is provided to senior citizens (60
years of age) and persons with disabilities who reside in Middlesex
County. The general purpose of the program is to make transportation
available and accessible so that the participants may obtain the necessities of
life, including, but not limited to employment, post-secondary education, social
and recreational activities, shopping and non-emergency medical services.
 |
Transportation is available on a first come
first serve basis. |
|
Transportation is provided within Middlesex
County and up to 5 miles outside the county. |
|
All transportation is curb to curb and shared
with other passengers. |
|
Feeder transportation service to accessible
fixed route transportation services (bus and rail) is available. |
Information
Needed To Register
|
First and Last Name |
|
Home Address and mailing address if different |
|
Telephone number |
|
Emergency contact name, and daytime telephone
number |
|
Date of birth |
|
Sex |
|
Disabilities-ambulatory/non-ambulatory |
|
Race* |
|
Household Income ( general not specific)* |
|
(Information required by government funding
source) |
Information
Needed To Schedule Transportation
|
Date of appointment |
|
Time of appointment |
|
Time to return home |
|
Destination address and telephone number |
|
Doctor's name, clinic name, company name,
etc. |
Cancellations:
Telephone 1-800-221-3520 between 7:15 am and 7:00
pm Monday-Friday. On weekends and after 7:00 pm on weekdays, telephone
(732) 296-1644 and leave a message. Passenger cancellations must be made 1
hour prior to scheduled pick up time. Failure to cancel initiates the NO
SHOW policy, which can eventually result in loss of transportation service for
fourteen (14) calendar days.
Emergency
Cancellations:
Every effort is made to telephone passengers as
soon as possible if transportation must be cancelled due to lack of drivers or
vehicles. Cancellations due to inclement weather or other emergencies are
announced on WCTC 1450 AM on your radio between 6 am and 7pm.
Passenger
Responsibilities:
|
Once registered always identify yourself with
your registration number when you telephone. |
|
Schedule transportation for an appointment as
soon as possible. |
|
Schedule transportation for monthly,
multiple, routine, repetitive appointments during the week of the 15th of
the month for the following month. |
|
In order to facilitate scheduling of follow
up appointments, ask the office receptionist to call and schedule your next
appointment at a convenient time for both you and AWTS. |
|
Provide exact addresses for pick up and drop
off for both original and return trips in order to improve service. |
|
Cancel transportation appointments at least 1
hour prior to scheduled pick up time. |
|
Be ready 1 hour prior to scheduled
appointment time to meet the vehicle at the curb. |
|
Only telephone if you will be late for your
return trip. |
|
Wear seat belts at all times.
Passengers on scooters will be requested to transfer to a seat and wear a
seat belt. |
|
No smoking, drinking or eating on the
vehicle. |
|
Do not talk to the driver while the vehicle
is in operation. |
|
Tipping the driver is prohibited. |
|
Passengers are limited to two (grocery size)
bags on the vehicle. |
|
Update registration information as necessary
in order to facilitate communication. |
|
Unruly and inappropriate behavior can result
in loss of transportation. |
|
Only registered and scheduled passengers will
be transported. (Aides do not need to be registered). |
Driver
Responsibilities:
|
All service is curb to curb and the driver is
not permitted to assist passengers beyond the curb. |
|
The driver will toot the horn and wait 5
minutes before advising the dispatcher and requesting permission to go o the
next pick up. |
|
Assistance is provided getting on and off the
vehicle. |
|
Assistance is provided with securing seat
belts. |
|
Assistance is provided to a passenger using a
mobility device to get on and off the curb and securing the mobility device
on the vehicle. |
|
Assistance may be provided putting on two
(grocery size) bags onto the vehicle and taking them off. |
|
Drivers are required to report all problems
to the dispatcher and take direction from the dispatcher on resolving
problems. |
|
Only passengers listed on driver's worksheets
will be transported. |
Special Trips:
Transportation is available on evenings and
weekends for social, educational and recreational purposes. Additional
information is available by telephoning (732) 296-1644.
Fares:
A one way fare of $1.50 ($3.00) roundtrip) is
charged for passengers of Special Trips and passengers who are transported for
competitive employment. Additional information is available by calling
(732) 296-1644.
No Service Days:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King's Birthday
Lincoln's Birthday
President's Day (Washington's Birthday)
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
General Election Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
Complaints
and Commendations:
To register a complaint or a compliment telephone
(732) 296-644 or write to the Middlesex County Department of Human Services,
Director of Transportation, 711 Jersey Avenue, new Brunswick, NJ 08901.
Transportation
Alternatives:
Many municipalities provide some type of
transportation for their senior and disabled residents. Information can be
obtained by calling your local municipal offices.
| 
