Consolidated Transportation Service Agency

The Mobility Manager for San Diego County

San Diego County ADA Paratransit Information

Advanced Ticket Purchase
Cancellations
Eligibility Requirements
Fares
No-Show Policy

Service Areas For San Diego County:

MTS Access, operated by Laidlaw Transit, travels only within the central San Diego area. MTS Suburban operated by Laidlaw Transit provides the same Paratransit services to the Mid-County, the East County and South Bay.  Both MTS Access and Suburban are governed by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). 

NCTD LIFT, operated by Laidlaw Transit provides the service for the North County inland and coastal areas served by NCTD. LIFT is governed by the North County Transit District (NCTD).  To help determine which agency operates within your area, please use the Service Area Map.

Please note: The ADA Paratransit service areas within San Diego County extend only 3/4 of a mile from fixed route transit.  Please call your local paratransit provider to verify your address is within their service area if you reside in the following areas/zip codes:

For the Imperial County, please call AIM Transportation at 760.337.8002 for more information about their ADA paratransit system.

Eligibility Requirements
ADA Certification - You may reserve a ride on MTS or NCTD paratransit service providers after you have been certified as being eligible for ADA services. Individuals who are unable to use the accessible fixed route system because of their disability are eligible for certification. There are several eligibility levels of certification for paratransit service, including “Temporary”.

NCTD ADA Certification
For more information on becoming certified for NCTD paratransit services please call: ADA Certification Services at (760) 966-6525.

Personal Care Attendant
People using paratransit services can ride alone or be approved to have a Personal Care Attendant (or PCA) ride along with them, in which case the Personal Care Attendant rides for free. Any other accompanying riders are considered Companions and must pay the full fare. This applies to MTS and NCTD paratransit service.

Travel Purpose Restrictions
There are no travel restrictions type of destination. People who use paratransit services can use the service for any trip purpose, anywhere within the paratransit service area. This applies to MTS and NCTD paratransit service.

Reservations

MTS Access and Suburban
For both MTS services, reservations are made within two days (maximum) of the trip. Same-day requests are not guaranteed. Both the initial and the return trips can be reserved with one phone call.

• To reserve a ride for MTS Access, call 1.888.517.9627 or TDD 1.800.568.7097
• To reserve a ride for MTS Suburban call 1.800.921.9664

NCTD LIFT Reservations
Passengers may call 1-2 days in advance for a trip. (Passengers may also call on Thursday/Friday for Monday/Tuesday trips.) Same day trips are not guaranteed. Both the initial pickup and return trip can be reserved with one phone call

• To reserve a ride on NCTD LIFT call 760.726.1111

Fares

TO CONFIRM ALL ADA PARATRANSIT FARES PLEASE CALL:

• MTS: 619- 699-1974
• NCTD: 760-966-6500

MTS Paratransit Fares
For MTS Suburban there is a flat charge of $3.50 each way of a trip. A certified passenger pays $3.50; a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) travels at no cost; any companions pay $3.50. This fare is valid in zones II, III, IV (See chart above).

For MTS Access there is a flat charge of $4.00 each way of a trip. A certified passenger pays $4.50; a PCA travels at no cost; any companions pay $4.50 each way. The fare is only valid within metropolitan San Diego (Zone I).

NCTD Paratransit Fares
For NCTD LIFT services there is a flat charge of $4.00 each way of a trip. The certified passenger pays $4.00; a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) travels at no cost; any companions must pay the $4.00 fare. This fare is valid in Zone V.

MTS and NCTD Paratransit Fare Chart

	MTS Suburban Paratransit (Laidlaw)	MTS ACCESS (Laidlaw)	NCTD LIFT (Laidlaw)
Fare:	$3.50	$4.50	$4.00

Transfers
Riders can travel through the differnt regional jurisdictions, and between the areas of the County served by the MTS and NCTD by transferring to the different providers. When a rider makes a reservation with the paratransit provider for a trip in which a transfer is needed, the person handling the reservations will arrange for the rider to transfer to the appropriate carrier.

MTS Access Transfers
A transfer from MTS Access is necessary for travel outside of the Metropolitan area of San Diego County to destinations in the Mid-County, North County, East County, and South Bay areas of San Diego.

For example, Judy Smith wants to go from her house in La Jolla to a restaurant in El Cajon. Because her trip is originating in the Metropolitan area, Judy will call MTS Access to book her ride. The reservationist will schedule a pick-up with MTS Access. The reservationist will then arrange a transfer with MTS Suburban to take Judy to East County. Judy will be picked up by MTS Access and will transfer on to a MTS Suburban bus half way through her trip.

The three different carriers each charge their own fares. When making a transfer, a passenger must only pay the difference in price (if any) from one carrier to the next. Please see the charge chart below for further clarification.

Trip Cancellations (MTS and NCTD)
If you are unable to take your scheduled trip, or you are not able to be on time for a pickup please call the paratransit services provider immediately.

• MTS Access: Call 1.888.517.9627
• MTS Suburban: Call 1.800.921.9664
• NCTD LIFT: Call 760.726.1111

Late Cancellation and No-Show Policies

MTS Access and Suburban
Late Cancellation: Any reservations cancelled after 5:00 pm the day before a scheduled trip.
No Show: When a passenger makes a reservation, and then is not ready at the scheduled place and time. Service may be suspended for excessive "no shows" or "late cancellations." The rider will be notified of the policy following a no-show or late cancellation.

NCTD LIFT
Late Cancellation: Any reservation for a scheduled trip that is cancelled less than one hour before the scheduled time of pickup.
No Show: When a person makes a reservation and is not ready to be picked up at the scheduled place or time.

Advance Ticket Purchase

MTS Access and Suburban
Ten-ticket booklets are available for MTS Access and MTS Suburban; $45.00 for MTS Access or $35.00 for MTS Suburban. Booklet includes ten (10) one way ride coupons and ten (10) upgrade coupons for transfer to Access. Booklets can be purchased in advance at:

The Transit Store
102 Broadway (at First Avenue)
Downtown San Diego
(619) 234-1060

The Transit Store accepts cash, checks, money orders, travelers checks, as well as Visa and Master Card credit cards, or

You can also order your prepaid ticket booklets through the mail. Send a check or money order for the number of booklets you would like, payable to SANDAG, along with a note specifying whether it's for MTS Access or MTS Suburban booklets to:

San Diego Association of Governments
Attn: Pass Sales
401 B Street, Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101-4231

NCTD LIFT
LIFT tickets are available for pre-purchase in books of ten (10) for $40.00. Ticket books can be purchased with a credit card by calling NCTD Customer Service at 760.966.6740, or passengers can request tickets by mail by calling customer service and pay with a check. Pre-purchase tickets are also available at the NCTD General Administration office at 810 Mission Avenue in Oceanside, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 AM and 5 PM.