In our effort to comply with the 2009 audit, Metro has looked at many ways to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of Access service. To guide this effort, Access has developed a strategic plan that identifies areas for improving productivity and lays out measures for reaching these goals. Areas we’re working to improve include speed of service, mapping of service areas, and dispatcher and driver performance.
Metro considered several options for reducing the “extra” Access service that is above and beyond ADA requirements.
These included reducing Access service hours, reducing the distance from Metro bus routes in which we provide Access service, and eliminating hand-to-hand service for customers who can never be left alone. We decided to reduce the hours of service because it means that no customer in King County will lose Access service completely.