Catch A Ride

What Does It Cost To Ride With RTP?

The Go Guide

For more information on our services, check out our Go Guide.

General Public Riders

RTP provides county-wide “General Public” transportation to residents of Cumberland County. General Public transportation is provided on a “space-available” basis. Income verification is not required to qualify for General Public service. As long as the trip is taking place within Cumberland County, RTP will do its best to help you get where you need to go. Because RTP is a shared-ride service, it does require flexibility on the part of riders.
Call 774-2666 or 1-800-244-0704.

Who Can Ride? Anyone, as long as the trip takes place within Cumberland County, there is space available, and we already have a vehicle scheduled in your area.

Where Can You Go? Shopping, hospital visits, the library, or any other purpose as long as the trip takes place within Cumberland County, and we have a vehicle already scheduled in your area.

What Does It Cost? The General Public Fare is $2.50 each way for trips within the same town or between neighboring towns, and increases to $3 on April 1, 2024. The Fare is $5.00 each way for trips between non-adjoining towns.

How Do You Get a Ride? Call RTP up to two weeks in advance, and AT LEAST 2 business days in advance to schedule a ride. For General Public rides, the more advance notice we have, the more likely we will be able to provide the ride. General Public transportation is shared-ride and on a space-available basis. Please be flexible and plan ahead. Please call us to see the times available in your area.
Call 774-2666 or 1-800-244-0704.

The best times to make your appointments under this category is between 10am and 2pm.

General Public Transportation rides can be provided, on a space-available basis, on days and times that RTP is operating service in your town or city.

People with Disabilities

ADA

Americans With Disabilities Act ParaTransit

We are committed to providing exceptional transportation services that meet or exceed the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Specifically, RTP provides paratransit transportation to eligible people living in, or visiting, the Greater Portland area who are prevented by a disability from utilizing fixed-route bus service.

Through our paratransit services, RTP provides an equivalent accessible option to people who cannot use the fixed-route bus services of METRO or South Portland Bus Service because of disability. Consequently, ADA Paratransit service allows you to travel anywhere within ¾ mile of fixed route bus services (METRO or South Portland Bus Service). However, both origin and destination must be within this ¾ mile corridor.

Your trip may be for any purpose—medical and other appointments, shopping, social activities, higher education, or visiting a friend. The paratransit service runs on all days and hours that the fixed-route bus service operates.

Ultimately, RTP’s ADA Paratransit service complements the fixed route system. The ADA service mirrors the METRO and South Portland Bus Service’s fixed route service availability. The ADA service remains available only within ¾ mile of the fixed route and only during hours and days that the fixed routes operate.

Hours of Service for Transportation

RTP’s paratransit service matches exactly the days of the week and hours of service for the METRO and the South Portland Bus Service.

Transportation services are accessed by completing an ADA Application and being certified through RTP, or if you are visiting from another area, by providing RTP with documentation of ADA certification from a transportation service in another area of the country. Eligibility for ADA Paratransit service is based on the rider’s functional ability to ride a bus independently. It is not based on other factors, such as the ability to drive a car, financial circumstances, inconvenience of the bus schedule, or eligibility for any other state or federal program. You can also fill out part of the application online here.

Who should apply for ADA services?

• Riders who are unable to use the fixed-route public bus services because of barriers like steep stairs, busy intersections, hills, lack of curb cuts, lack of sidewalks, unavailability of a lift on a public bus, weather-related heat or cold, difficulty traveling alone and/or recognizing new destinations.
• People with mobility impairments due to visual limitations, arthritis, spinal cord injury, or other physical limitations that are a barrier to using fixed route services.
• In addition to individuals with physical disabilities that prevent them from using the fixed route, this right is also granted to people with mental, cognitive, and visual impairments who cannot recognize destinations, understand bus transfers, or distinguish between buses on different routes at terminals and/or while en route.
• Individuals who feel that they are eligible for ADA service must complete an application. You can download the ADA Application and guidelines provided below:

Online ADA Application

ADA Application

CALL RTP FOR MORE INFO: 207-774-2666 or 1-800-244-0704

Fare

$3.00 each way at the time you board a vehicle for an ADA ride.

To schedule a Trip
Please call 207-774-2666 or 1-800-244-0704

To schedule a ride during normal dispatch hours (Monday – Friday 5:30 am to 5:00pm)

• Trips can be scheduled up to 14 days in advance and no less than 5:00 P.M. the day before a trip. Eg. Trip request for January 23rd can be called in to the office during regular dispatch office hours on January 10th at the earliest, and January 22nd by 5pm at the latest).
• When scheduling a ride, tell the call taker:
• You would like to schedule and ADA trip,
• Your name,
• The exact address (number and street name) where you want to be picked up,
• What time you would like to be at your destination (be specific if you are going to an appointment),
• The exact address (number and street name) of where you want to go, and
• If you will be traveling with a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) or companion(s).

You must also schedule your return trip.

To Schedule a Ride on a Weekend or Holiday

When you need to schedule an ADA-approved ride for the next day during a weekend or holiday, please call 207-774-2666 or 1-800-244-0704 and follow the prompts. Conveniently, our after-hours system allows you to call and leave your ride details (same as above) until 5:00 PM on weekends or holidays to book a ride for the following day.

Once you submit your details, the system automatically notifies our on-call dispatcher of the upcoming trip. Subsequently, the dispatcher enters the details and schedules your ride for the following business day.

• ADA regulations permit the scheduling of your ride up to one hour before or one hour after the trip time you request, without making you late for an appointment.
• When boarding the vehicle, please pay the driver the exact fare – drivers do not make change.

For riders who require a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) to travel with them, that person is considered a mobility aid and rides for free. You must be registered as requiring a PCA.

• You may always take one traveling companion. Additional companions are permitted on a space available basis. Companions pay the same fare as the person they are accompanying. PCAs and companions must have the same pick-up address and drop-off address as the ADA rider.
• Service animals are welcome on all RTP vehicles.
• Our fleet includes both wheelchair lift-equipped vehicles and standard sedans to accommodate your needs. RTP will determine which vehicle will be sent to pick up a rider.

Late Trips
At times, riders may experience a late pick-up or drop-off due to inclement weather, traffic, construction, or other unforeseen circumstances. If this occurs, please contact RTP at 207-774-2666 or 1-800-244-0704 to report it as soon as you are able. This will provide RTP the opportunity to be sure that riders are receiving a quality, reliable service. If we don’t know about it, we can’t fix it.

ADA Visitor Policy
Paratransit service may be provided to ADA eligible persons who are not currently certified within the Greater Portland area. All visitors are required to provide a minimum amount of information to RTP to determine eligibility to utilize paratransit service. Visitors must provide the following:

• Proof of address and documentation of a transportation disability (if not readily apparent).
• The complete address of where residing while visiting in the Greater Portland area.

Visitors are eligible for service for any combination of 21 days during any 365-day period beginning with the visitor’s first use of the service. A letter will be issued to the visitor containing a visitor ID number and information regarding the limitations of their eligibility and service provision.

Information on how to become eligible for paratransit service in the Greater Portland area is also included in the letter.

Visitors returning to the region whose visitor eligibility has expired must reapply for visitor eligibility. Those planning to return to the region within the year, frequently visit the region, or stay in the region over 21 days are encouraged to submit an application for RTP paratransit services.

Reasonable Modification Requests
RTP will provide reasonable accommodations to policies, practices, or procedures when the accommodations are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability unless making the modifications (1) would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity, or (2) would result in undue financial and administrative burdens, or (3) without the requested modification, the individual with a disability is able to fully use the entity’s services, programs, or activities for their intended purpose.

Persons with disabilities who would like to make a reasonable accommodation request are asked to submit to RTP’s Executive Director, in writing, the following:
Should you need to request another format, please call 207-774-2666 x 7601 for assistance.

a. Please label the written statement as “Reasonable Accommodation Request”
b. Please provide your contact information, specifically a telephone number where we can contact you;
c. Make the reasonable accommodation request in advance of desired change in policy or practice;
d. Please be as specific as possible about how a current policy or practice creates a barrier to your use of RTP’s ADA service;
e. Please recommend the change that you would like RTP to consider.

Please submit the requests to: RTP Executive Director, 1 Ledgeview Dr; Westbrook, ME 04092

We will make every effort to accommodate IMMEDIATE reasonable accommodation requests for situations in which a potential immediate and present barrier to using RTP’s ADA service. In these situations, passengers are asked to contact RTP’s Transportation Supervisor at 207-774-2666 x 7601.

Civil Rights Notice
RTP is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation, denied benefits, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Any person who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination or retaliation based on their race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability may file a Title VI complaint. Complaints may be filed directly to RTP or to the MeDOT. Complaints must be filed in writing and signed by the complainant or a representative and should include the complainant’s name, address, and telephone number or other means by which the complainant can be contacted. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discrimination.

Complaints should be filed to: Regional Transportation Program, Attn: Executive Director, 1 Ledgeview Dr, Westbrook, ME 04092. RTP will respond to any written Title VI complaint within 10 business days.

Or Civil Rights Office, MDOT, 16 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0016.

Appeals Process
For persons who’s Application for ADA Paratransit Service is denied, RTP has developed an appeals process as required by the ADA. Applicants have up to 60 days from the date of the written denial to appeal.

Appeal Procedures
• The applicant will be provided reasons in writing (or in a format accessible to the applicant) for denial of eligibility.
• The applicant has 60 days from the date of the denial to request an appeal hearing.
• The applicant has the right to have their case heard in person and bring an advocate or personal representative to the hearing scheduled by RTP, Inc.
• RTP, Inc. will make a decision on the appeal as soon as possible. The decision cannot exceed 30 calendar days or the applicant may receive service beginning the next calendar day until a decision is made.
• RTP, Inc. is responsible for establishing local appeals procedures. RTP. Inc. will:
1. Establish an appeals panel.
2. The panel will be structured to ensure an impartial review.
3. The panel will consist of :
A. Three persons:
1. One “peer”.
2. One person with applicable professional experience working with persons with disabilities and,
3. One member of the RTP Board of Directors.
4. The decision of the appeal panel will be provided in writing, and will be final.
5. Applicants may reinitiate the service eligibility process any time there is a change in their functional ability which prevents them from using the fixed route systems.
6. RTP will provide auxiliary assistance (e.g. interpreter services, transportation, material in an accessible format, and so forth) to ensure the applicant may fully participate in the hearing.

ADA Complimentary Paratransit Policy and Procedures 09 2023

Upon request, RTP will provide information in alternative formats. Please call 774-2666 x 7601 for more info or to request.

People with Low Income

Anyone can ride with RTP. Specifically, passengers can ride the bus for medical appointments and shopping (however, we only schedule shopping trips when drivers operate in your area on a designated shopping day). Please contact RTP for more information on these services.

Please note: All trips under this category need to be between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

To see if you qualify for free transportation, just fill out a Rider Application and submit it to RTP. You can get a start on the application online here. Alternatively, riders who already have an application on file can call our office. Riders must renew applications yearly and submit income verification with the completed application.