Access Living friends and allies,
Chicago area paratransit riders, this action alert is for you! In June, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) adopted an ordinance to approve an ADA Paratransit Action Plan. This plan proposes some measures to address an expected funding shortfall in 2025, including proposals to that would impact the popular RAP and TAP programs.
The proposed changes for RAP and TAP will limit the program. The new ordinance proposes to raise the cost of TAP and RAP trips from $2 to $3.25, and to limit the number of rides paratransit riders can take on RAP and TAP to 30 trips a month. This adoption of this ordinance occurred without input from the disability community. Many riders need far more than 30 trips a month so they can work, go to school, care for their families, and be part of community activities. Moreover, inflation is very hard when people are on fixed incomes like SSI and SSDI, and those already feeling the squeeze at grocery stores will also be affected by increased RAP/TAP fares.
Access Living urges you to call on RTA and Pace to do everything they can to not implement these changes.
If you rely on RAP and TAP, or know someone who does, please help us fight to continue these programs unchanged. Below, we list some ways for you to get involved.
Sign the Petition! Concerned Citizens of Paratransit, a disability advocacy group based in Chicagoland, set up this petition link to show opposition to the RAP/TAP changes. Anyone can sign! Please add your name.
Get involved with Power to the People! Access Living’s community organizing groups have their own coalition, called Power to the People (PTP). PTP is organizing meetings/advocacy on RAP and TAP. To get involved, contact Michelle Garcia at mgarcia@accessliving.org or Larry Dean at ldean@accessliving.org.
Public comment to the Pace Board: The Pace Board of Directors meets on August 20, both in person and remotely. To learn more about how to attend and how to submit public comment, visit this link. Requests to give public comment must be submitted 24 hours in advance.
Pace also holds meetings of its two ADA Advisory Committees. One is for Chicago and one is for the suburbs. The next meeting of the Chicago ADA Advisory Committee is on August 27 at 1 pm Central. It is both in person and virtual. For details and for instructions on providing public comment, please visit this link. Again, requests to give public comment need to be submitted 24 hours in advance.Please share these opportunities with fellow Chicago-area disability advocates! RAP and TAP matter to so many of us. Thank you for your advocacy.