Scott Burlingame

Independence Inc. has experienced a rise in call numbers since the application process opened for people with disabilities who will need certification to obtain door-to-door transit service after July 1, according to Executive Director Scott Burlingame.

Burlingame said the new process has generated some concerns, and his agency stands ready to answer questions or help with applications. Other Minot social service agencies that serve people with disabilities also may be able to assist their clients.

The application process is part of federal requirements as the City of Minot transitions its transit system to an urban classification. People must certify as eligible for paratransit services under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“In most communities that do have paratransit, it works, and people do get to work and people do get to medical appointments and grocery shopping or whatever they need to do. The hard part is that there’s going to be just so many growing pains,” Burlingame said of the coming changes.

Burlingame said individuals who don’t qualify to use the ADA paratransit should know the fixed-route buses have advantages.

City fixed-route buses are accessible for people with disabilities. They’re also more affordable than door-to-door paratransit, more flexible and more reliable in following a set schedule, he said. Rides don’t need to be scheduled in advance. The service doesn’t get booked and turn down riders. The challenge for riders is to become comfortable using the fixed-route buses, which is another area where Independence, Inc., can help, he said.

There’s been concern about needing to walk several blocks to a bus stop, but Burlingame said the ADA review takes that into account in determining eligibility. If an application is rejected, the appeals process allows for a closer look at an individual’s unique situation, he added.

Once an individual obtains certification, that entitles the person to utilize paratransit in any other urban system around the country, he said.

Overall, becoming an urban system should be good for Minot, Burlingame noted.

“It should bring in additional transit dollars for the city, so there should be more opportunities to improve the transit system in our city. It also makes it consistent with the same rules that are in place for accessible transportation in every city of our size or bigger,” he said.

As the initial rush of calls settles down, Independence, Inc., is open to hearing from any system users who may still have concerns or are experiencing issues.

“If the system’s not working, we need to apply advocacy pressure in the right areas. I really want to see, at some point, some sort of a public meeting on this so that people can come and they can talk and listen and really kind of work through it,” he said. “The more information we can provide, the more empowered people will become on this issue.”