Purpose: The Public Transportation Department and contracted provider will provide safe transportation for AnchorRIDES customers and employees during severe weather or emergency conditions. AnchorRIDES service warrants additional consideration for the challenges involved with transporting people with disabilities, including obstacles for path of travel as vehicles are operated on side roads and driveways. If operating conditions are deemed unsafe due to severe weather, a declared emergency, hazardous road or environmental conditions, or unscheduled closure of an individual agency or business, the AnchorRIDES General Manager or designee will be in contact with Contract Administrator, designee and/or other local, state or federal authorizing governmental department to monitor, prepare and authorize suspension of service. Definitions: 1. Contract Administrator: Municipal employee responsible for oversight of the contract for operation of AnchorRIDES. 2. Core Service: Core Service Areas: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires comparable paratransit service be provided within 3/4 mile of any fixed route (People Mover) service. As People Mover routes change, the core area will also change. 3. Declared emergency: A localized, community-wide, state-wide or nation- wide catastrophic or hazardous event in which a local, state or federal governmental agency decrees a state of emergency and/or a decreed disaster area. 4. Emergency Operations Center: A department of the Municipality of Anchorage tasked with coordination, training and preparedness of potential emergencies effecting Anchorage. 5. General Manager: Contractor employee responsible for oversight of the operation and maintenance of AnchorRIDES. 6. Hazardous weather conditions: Adverse road and/or environmental conditions that make it unsafe to operate the AnchorRIDES vehicles as advised by the National Weather Service as a Weather Warning In Effect". Page 1 of 6
7. Medically Essential Trips: An AnchorRIDES ride scheduled for the purpose of a life sustaining reason, such as dialysis chemotherapy, obtaining oxygen, insulin or other life sustaining prescription or medical equipment. 8. Premium Service Areas: Locations beyond 3/4 mile of a People Mover fixed route up to the service area boundary. This level of service is not required under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 9. Unscheduled closure of a business/agency: The inability to drop-off a passenger at their scheduled destination due to the building or service being inoperable or unopened. An event in which a business or agency notifies the AnchorRIDES contractor that it is sending AnchorRIDES passengers home earlier than their scheduled pick-up time. 10. Vulnerable Populations Database: In cooperation with the Anchorage Emergency Operations Center, the Vulnerable Populations database is a voluntary listing of persons who wish to be registered for extra transportation assistance in the event of an emergency. The Vulnerable Populations database is maintained by AnchorRIDES and administered by the Anchorage Emergency Operations Center. POLICY 1. Authorization to Close or Alter Service: The MOA Office of Emergency Management, MOA Public Transportation Department and/or other local, state or federal authorizing governmental department will authorize the closing of transportation services to AnchorRIDES contractor when conditions for operation are unsafe or hazardous. The contractor is required to cooperate during a declared emergency, and will be furnished with the most current copy of the Emergency Transportation Preparedness Plan from the Municipality of Anchorage, Office of Emergency Management. 2. Declared Emergency: In an official state of emergency, the contractor will cancel all scheduled rides until conditions allow restored transportation services. If the emergency is within a localized area, those rides in the affected area may be canceled. Priority will be given for emergency transportation of those listed in the vulnerable populations database and other services deemed necessary by the Emergency Operations Center and life sustaining purposes (such as dialysis Page 2 of 6
treatment). Non priority service will be restored as resources allow. The contractor is to make every effort to make phone contact with passengers affected by the emergency. However, the nature of the emergency may not allow phone use. So passengers should be aware that under emergency situations, their ride may be canceled or altered without prior notification. Local radio and television stations will be notified if possible of transportation delays or cancellations. 3. Unscheduled closure of a business or agency: The contractor will make an effort to coordinate with the business or agency, and transport passengers to their residences as soon as possible. The contractor will strive to accommodate displaced riders with the least impact to previously confirmed rides. Agencies and/or businesses are responsible to coordinate drop off instructions with the contractor, passengers and caregivers. The AnchorRIDES contractor will not transport a passenger earlier than their scheduled time without a confirmed drop-off location where he/she is received by a caregiver, or able to enter a building if independent. 4. Severe Weather Closures: During severe weather conditions, it is the goal of AnchorRIDES to transport riders to their requested destinations as long as it is safe to do so. Generally, when weather conditions do not allow safe transport, outbound trips are discontinued and only return trips are provided. The contractor will make good faith efforts to notify riders if their trips are cancelled. Procedure: The Anchorage Public Transportation Director or Contract Administrator will determine the status of bus operations and road conditions with data collected from the contractor through the following sources: State of Alaska, DOT Weather and Road Information System Anchorage Street Maintenance division National Weather Service AnchorRIDES drivers and manager road safety checks Anchorage Police Department Service levels during a declared emergency, hazardous weather conditions or unscheduled business/agency closure are as follows. Page 3 of 6
Alert Phase: Operations continue regularly scheduled service. The Alert Phase is triggered by any of the following forecasts or advisories: A. Anticipated snow up to 4 inches within the next 12 hours B. Any amount of sleet, ice or freezing rain projected within the next 12 hours C. High wind watch of up to 60 MPH sustained winds issued by the National Weather Service. D. Notification of potential state of emergency or location closure. Alert Phase Message is posted through phone and online media: (Example) A weather advisory is in effect and AnchorRIDES intends to operate on schedule. Be advised that forecasted weather conditions may cause some delays. Please listen to weather reports on your local radio, television or online media and plan your travel accordingly. Level 1 Activation: Operations continue regularly scheduled service, but customers are encouraged to rescheduled non-essential trips. Level 1 Activation is triggered by any of the following forecasts or advisories: A. Up to 4 inches of existing snow and up to 6 inches forecasted B. Ice, sleet or freezing road conditions prevail and/or likely. C. High wind conditions are occurring up to 60 MPH. D. A declared emergency situation or a location closure where service cannot operate into or around a specific location or area. A Level 1 Activation message is posted through phone and online media: A Weather Advisory is in effect. AnchorRIDES is operating in all service areas, but weather conditions will cause some delays. Customers are encouraged to reschedule their trips if travel is not essential. Level 2 Activation: Service is cancelled in areas affected by severe weather conditions and/or emergency in effect. This may include the outer areas or the service area such as Premium zones, Eagle River Connect zones, or core service area locations determined unsafe for operation. Page 4 of 6
Level 2 Activation occurs when any of the following conditions are met in portions of the service area: A. Up to 6 inches of existing snow and up to 12 inches forecasted B. Ice, sleet or freezing road conditions are hazardous. C. High wind conditions are occurring at or more than 60 MPH. D. A state of emergency situation or a location closure is in effect and service cannot operate into or around a specific location or area. A Level 2 Activation message is posted through phone, online media and Office of the Mayor (example): Due to severe weather conditions, and for rider safety, AnchorRIDES will operate a limited service area and/or schedule. AnchorRIDES is operating in all service areas, except Anchorage Hillside and Eagle River areas. Level 3 Activation: Service is cancelled for non-essential trips. Service is restricted to home return trips and trips for life sustaining purposes. Level 3 Activation occurs when any of the following conditions are met throughout the service areas: A. Up to 6 inches of existing snow and up to 12 inches forecasted B. Ice, sleet or freezing road conditions are hazardous. C. High wind conditions are occurring at or more than 60 MPH. D. A state of emergency situation or a location closure is in effect and service cannot operate into or around a specific location or area. A Level 3 Activation message is posted through phone, online media and Office of the Mayor (example): Due to severe weather conditions, and for rider safety, AnchorRIDES is cancelling all trips except those for life sustaining purposes and trips to return riders home. In the following two days, please consider rescheduling non-essential trips until side streets have been cleared. We apologize for any inconvenience this will cause. Level 4 Activation: Due to safety concerns, all trip service is suspended. Page 5 of 6
Level 4 Activation occurs when any of the following conditions are met throughout the service areas: A. Up to 12 inches of existing snow. B. Ice, sleet or freezing road conditions are hazardous. C. High wind conditions are occurring at or more than 75 MPH. D. A state of emergency situation or warning for only emergency vehicles to be driving on roads location or area. A Level 4 Activation message is posted through phone, online media and Office of the Mayor and through the Public Service Announcement system. (example): Due to severe weather conditions throughout the service area, and for rider safety, all AnchorRIDES service has been suspended. If a rider has a medical emergency, please contact 911. Please check posting or call for an update on the start of up service. Resumption of Service: Emergency or location closure situations: AnchorRIDES will resume transportation when local authority deems the area is cleared for travel and/or AnchorRIDES personnel and/or vehicles are released from participation in emergency operations. Severe weather situations: The Alaska Department of Transportation and Anchorage Street Maintenance first clear and/or sand highways, arterial and connector roads. After a winter storm it can take up to 72 hours for side streets and walkways to be cleared. AnchorRIDES management will evaluate road conditions throughout and the days after a severe storm to determine where and when safe operations can be resumed. Riders and locations need to keep walkways and driveways cleared and sanded for safe access to and from the AnchorRIDES vehicle, or service may be canceled until safe access is available. Update information will be available on: AnchorRIDES Website: www.anchorrides.org Online at Facebook as: AnchorRIDES Alerts AnchorRIDES Customer Service: 343-2550 Page 6 of 6