Purpose: The Public Transportation Department (PTD) and AnchorRIDES paratransit contractor will provide transportation in as safe a manner as effectively possible. Paratransit vehicles primarily operate on low capacity roads including alleys, cul-de-sacs and driveways that are not priority for sanding and snow removal. In addition, AnchorRIDES riders have special needs and limited maneuverability often requiring wheelchair lift deployment or door-to-door service. Obstacles or hazards in vehicular and pedestrian paths of travel warrants additional consideration for the challenges involved in safely transporting special needs passengers and providing a safe work environment. Definitions: 1. Contract Administrator: Municipal Public Transportation Department employee responsible for oversight of AnchorRIDES paratransit service operated by a non Municipal provider. 2. Core Service Area: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires comparable paratransit service to operate within 3/4 mile of a fixed route (People Mover) service. 3. Emergency Operations Center: A department of the Municipality of Anchorage tasked with coordination, training and preparedness of potential emergencies effecting Anchorage. 4. General Manager: Contracted employee responsible for oversight of the operation and maintenance of AnchorRIDES. 5. Life Sustaining Trips: AnchorRIDES rides scheduled for medically essential purposes aimed to keep a person alive such as dialysis, chemotherapy or obtaining prescriptions or medical equipment such as oxygen tanks and insulin. 6. Premium Service Areas: Locations beyond 3/4 mile of a People Mover fixed route up to the service area boundary. These additional areas designated for paratransit service by the Municipality of Anchorage, and are not required by, or subject to regulations under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. POLICY The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) Office of Emergency Management, MOA Public Transportation Department and/or other local, state or federal governmental department Page 1 of 5
can authorize the closing of normal operations of AnchorRIDES when conditions are unsafe, hazardous and/or during declared emergency or disaster. The AnchorRIDES General Manager or designee and the Public Transportation Director or Contract Administrator will coordinate and exchange information that will potentially alter service levels. The Anchorage Public Transportation Director or Contract Administrator determines the status of vehicle operations and road conditions with information collected from the following resources: State of Alaska, DOT Weather and Road Information System Anchorage Street Maintenance Division National Weather Service Anchorage Police Department Paratransit and transit management road safety checks Situations that can affect regular service levels: 1. Declared Emergency: Any unforeseen occurrence or condition that results or apparently will result in an insufficiency of services or facilities substantial enough to endanger the public health, safety, or welfare as identified by local, state or federal authorities or as determined by the Contract Administrator. The paratransit contractor is required to cooperate as requested by governmental authority. The contractor will cancel all affected trips until conditions allow service to resume, or released from participation in emergency operations. 2. Unscheduled Building Closure: The inability to drop-off a passenger at a scheduled destination or the need to pick up AnchorRIDES passengers earlier than their scheduled pick-up time due to an unforeseen shutdown at locations such as businesses and agencies The contractor will cancel trips to the location and make effort to coordinate transportation of riders to their residences as soon as possible. The contractor will strive to accommodate these riders with the least impact to previously confirmed rides. The agency or business is responsible to coordinate transportation with AnchorRIDES and caregivers for passengers who need to be met by a caregiver at the drop off locations. 3. Hazardous Weather Closure: AnchorRIDES service levels will change when significant adverse weather conditions affect the safety of road and travel conditions. AnchorRIDES will use various activation levels to guide staff and customers on what Page 2 of 5
actions to take with various weather and emergency and closure conditions. AnchorRIDES management will evaluate road conditions during and after a severe storm to determine where and when safe operations can resume. Riders and locations are asked to have driveways walkways and walkways cleared and sanded for reasonably safe access to and from the AnchorRIDES vehicle, or service may be canceled. Update information will be available on: AnchorRIDES Website: www.anchorrides.org Online at Facebook as: AnchorRIDES Alerts AnchorRIDES Customer Service: 343-2550 Procedure: Service levels during a declared emergency, hazardous weather conditions or unscheduled business/agency closure are as follows: Yellow- Level 1 Activation: Operations continue regularly scheduled service, but customers are encouraged to rescheduled non-essential trips. Yellow - 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. Yellow Level 1 activation message posted through phone and online media (example): 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. Orange- Level 2 Activation: Service is cancelled in areas affected by severe weather conditions and/or emergencies in effect. This may include areas with steep terrain, road closures or around locations determined unsafe for operation. Orange - Level 2 activation occurs when any of the following conditions are met in portions of the service area: Page 3 of 5
A. Up to 6 inches of existing snow and up to 12 inches forecasted C. High wind conditions are occurring above 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. Orange - 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 (insert specific areas). Red - Level 3 Activation: Service is cancelled for non-essential trips. Service is restricted to home return trips and trips for life sustaining purposes. Red - Level 3 occurs when any of the following conditions are met throughout the service areas: A. More than 6 inches of existing snow and up to 12 inches forecasted 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. 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. Black - Level 4 Activation: All trip service is suspended at the notification of an authorized governmental agency of conditions that warrant no travel except for emergency vehicles. Black - Level 4 Activation occurs when any of the following conditions are met throughout the service areas: A. More than 12 inches of existing snow. Page 4 of 5
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. Page 5 of 5