You can find information for people with disabilities about traveling on MTA public transportation, including a great deal of information about Access-A-Ride by clicking here: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/ada/index.html
Access-A-Ride (AAR) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The fare for one ride is the same as public transit and is to be paid in exact change. AAR drivers do not provide change.
If your AAR ID you to travel with a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), your PCA does not have to pay a fare when traveling with you.
Access-A-Ride mailing address: 130 Livingston Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
Calling for a Ride Please call between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., one or two days before your trip: 877-337-2017 718-393-4999
TTY Numbers: Command Center TTY 718-393-4258 Reservations TTY 718-393-4257 Applications-Eligibility-Paratransit Information TTY 718-393-4259 Relay TTY 800-662-1220
Access-A-Ride Complaints? If you'd like to make a complaint about Access-A-Ride or any of the services provided by the MTA, then access their online complaint form
Pick-Up Time Be at your pick-up spot at the exact start of your 30-minute wait period. Have your fare and ID card ready.
If you are not there to board at your scheduled time, the driver will wait five minutes after your pick-up-time and then leave.
If the Van is Late If you wait 30 minutes (from your scheduled pick-up time) and the van is still not there, call 877-337-2017 and press "5" when the message begins. A Customer Information Agent will contact the dispatcher and obtain an estimated time of arrival and location for your vehicle. If the vehicle is not close by, we may either send another vehicle to pick you up or give an authorization for car or taxi service.
To Cancel a Trip You must cancel your trips by 5 p.m. on the day before a scheduled ride. Call 877-337-2017 and press "4" when the recorded message begins. Same-day cancellations can upset a schedule for the entire day and result in suspension of service if you make them too often.
All topics in this quick guide are discussed in detail in the Paratransit Service Users' Guide that was sent to you when you became an AAR customer. If you need another copy, please call MTA New York City Transit Customer Service at 718-330-3322.
A Special Note On some days Access-A-Ride makes more than 13,000 scheduled trips. You can imagine how difficult a scheduling challenge that poses. Last minute cancellations, customer "no shows," traffic congestion, bad weather, and human error all impact your service.