Angry disabled riders sound off

Transit riders with disabilities brought their grievances with Pace to a higher authority Thursday.

"People are hurting," transit advocate Ayo Maat told Regional Transportation Authority directors. She called for the resignation of Pace administrators, adding, "You're the overseers. We're asking you to do the oversight."

Pace Executive Director T.J. Ross admitted since the agency instituted changes in late March, results have been far from perfect.

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But Ross added that, "I feel the system is stabilizing."

Transit for Chicagoans with disabilities used to be handled by the Chicago Transit Authority until state legislators gave that responsibility to Pace in 2006.

The suburban agency started a new program March 28 that separates Chicago into three zones covered by separate contractors providing rides. At the same time, Pace began using a new computerized dispatching software program that promptly crashed under the stress of the extra calls.

Riders with stories of incompetent drivers, endless trips and botched pickups rallied at a Pace meeting last week. Thursday, they implored the RTA to intervene.

"We have a crisis," said Jim Watkins, who co-chairs an RTA advisory committee on disability issues. "I'm hearing stories that break my heart."

Ross blamed the situation on the companies the agency hired to transport disabled riders. "They failed us in the first few weeks, and we have been on their backs," Ross said.

The computer glitches with the dispatch system are also being addressed, he said.

RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman promised to meet with Pace officials about riders' concerns and said an audit of the agency's performance was a possibility.

But he added, "Pace is working as hard as they can to fix this."

Disabled advocates also called for a Chicago representative to sit on the Pace board of directors, which is composed of suburban elected leaders.

That could be addressed by legislation pending in the General Assembly seeking city membership, RTA officials said.

One of the RTA's newest directors, Michael Scott, said he empathized with riders' concerns, adding that waiting even 20 minutes "is a lifetime for a person with disabilities."

Maat, who uses a wheelchair, and other transit activists have submitted a "Declaration of Independence" on paratransit to state leaders seeking to eliminate the zoning system and to lower fares.

Pace has raised paratransit rates from $1.75 to $2.25 for a one-way fare and the cost of the monthly pass from $75 to $150. The increase was necessary to meet new state mandates requiring a 10 percent recovery ratio on fares, Pace officials said.