Wheel-Trans begins Family of Services pilot

Wheel-Trans Update

When the TTC Board approved the Wheel-Trans 10-Year Strategy last September, one of the recommendations included the introduction a Family of Services pilot in 2017. That trial service began on May 30.

The Family of Services pilot allows the TTC to work with customer volunteers to test, validate and refine concepts to build a final service delivery model and supporting customer policies and operating procedures that meet customer travel needs.  About 30 volunteer customers have registered and been briefed to participate in Phase 1 of the pilot, which involves an outbound Wheel-Trans journey to accessible subway stations only.

With the Family of Services model, customer journeys are delivered through a combination of Wheel-Trans and accessible conventional transit modes (bus, subway, streetcar or community bus services) for customers who are able, using advanced booking technologies to deliver intermodal trips.

Phase 2 will see customers being able to book outbound trips to connect with the 29 Dufferin, 84 Sheppard West, 85 Sheppard East, 95 York Mills and 97 Yonge bus routes and accessible subway stations on both Line 1 and 2. Wheel-Trans and bus Operators from Malvern, Arrow Road and Wilson Divisions are receiving special training to support this.

Phases 3 and 4 will permit customers to also book their return journeys via subway or identified conventional bus routes to connect with Wheel-Trans to take them on the “last mile” to their homes.

Changes to eligibility criteria under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act required all specialized transportation service providers to expand eligibility to those with cognitive, sensory and mental health disabilities by Jan. 1, 2017. The Family of Services pilot is one component of the Wheel-Trans 10-Year Strategy aimed at ensuring customers have access to an equitable and sustainable transit system that offers them greater freedom.

More updates will follow as the rollout progresses.

May 31, 2017