Pace adviser suspended from using paratransit

A former member of an elite committee created to advise Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski on the future of paratransit in the region has been temporarily banned from the service.

A tearful Darlene Hale pleaded Thursday with the Regional Transportation Authority to overturn a suspension that keeps her off Pace's ride program for disabled individuals.

Hale told RTA commissioners, who have oversight of Pace operations, she was mistreated Dec. 19 by a driver who wouldn't allow her and her adult son, Troneeko French, into a waiting van.

French is severely disabled and Hale is his primary caregiver. They were traveling to his doctor's office in Chicago using paratransit - a van pickup service for people unable to use fixed routes.

"We walked through the snow and ice," said Hale, of Chicago. "And the driver denied us entry. He locked the door and we stood in the cold and snow."

Pace officials dispute her story, but stated they couldn't reveal details without Hale signing a waiver to release personal information.

Agency spokesman Patrick Wilmot confirmed Hale was suspended for 45 days, effective Feb. 9.

In general, a suspension is given after "a long and demonstrated pattern of disruptive behavior by a rider or a personal care attendant," he said. "This is used as a last resort."

RTA leaders promised to review the situation.

French is still permitted on paratransit, but his mother said he can't function without her help.

She has been a frequent critic of Pace's on-time performance at board meetings.

Hale said she wasn't able to attend a hearing on her temporary suspension because French was ill and, instead of postponing it, she "was railroaded."

Wilmot said Hale's attorney was present and she was able to participate by teleconference. Her suspension shows the agency evaluates all disruptive incidents fairly without favoritism, he said.

The bad blood between Pace and Hale is a sharp divergence from June when Kwasneski chose her, along with a number of experts from the disabled community, to serve on a "Blue Ribbon" committee.

The panel was formed to deal with complaints from riders about Pace's decision to divide Chicago into three zones served by different transportation companies, plus concerns about delays and quality of service.

Pace took over paratransit services for city residents in 2006 from the Chicago Transit Authority.