Transit contractor defends manager, says ADA paratransit plan approved as advocates press for more service

An ATE representative told the Missoula Urban Transit District that ATE has helped develop Mountain Line’s Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit plan, that the plan was approved by the Federal Transit Administration, and that recent complaints about service and management misrepresent the system’s performance.

The statement, delivered during a public presentation and Q&A, came in response to criticisms from Summit Independent Living Center and several former employees alleging reduced specialized transit services and personnel problems. The ATE representative said usage of the paratransit service rose from 17,914 trips in 1989 to 20,348 trips in 1992 and that the system had saved roughly $35,000 in purchasing discounts over the previous 18 months as part of ATE’s broader management services.

The discussion matters because FTA approval of a paratransit plan is a condition of some federal funding, and disputes over service levels and personnel affect both access for people with disabilities and the transit district’s operations. The ATE representative emphasized the distinction between desired service expansions and legal requirements under the ADA, saying the law does not require fixed-route systems…