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Chesterfield County outlines Access on Demand update, proposes fare rise to sustain service
Summary
County Mobility Services presented usage metrics, two state grants and a proposal to raise the intra-county fare from $6 to $10 (effective Jan. 2026) while keeping disability and income eligibility; officials plan community outreach and biennial fee reviews.
Unidentified Speaker, a Mobility Services presenter from Chesterfield County's Community Engagement and Resources, gave an update on the county's Access on Demand paratransit program and recommended changes aimed at long-term sustainability.
The presenter said Access on Demand is a scheduled pick-up service for Chesterfield County residents who are age 60 or older, have a short- or long-term disability, or meet low-income criteria; applicants must provide documentation to enroll. The program covers trips within the county for any reason and allows work- and medical-related trips to neighboring jurisdictions, including Richmond, Henrico, Hanover and parts of Hopewell and Colonial Heights.
Why it matters: The county emphasized the program's role in connecting seniors, residents with disabilities and low-income riders to employment and medical appointments. The presenter said the service is valued by riders and county leaders but that rising demand has created sustainability concerns.
Key figures and funding: Using Power BI reports, the presenter cited 2,636 active riders over three years and described recent trip data, including an average trip length of about 11.6 miles and an average cost-per-trip presented at approximately $31'$32. The presenter also reported fiscal-year 2025 program figures presented as 150,000 paid trips and a passenger mix the speaker said was roughly 47% seniors, 41% disabled and 12% low-income. The county reported receiving two grants from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation: one for $500,000 (described in the presentation in connection with wheelchair-related support) and another for $80,000 to fund a program coordinator position.
Proposed changes: To address sustainability, the presenter recommended raising the one-way intra-county fare from $6 to $10 and setting the one-way outside-county fare at $15.01 (as stated in the presentation). The presenter also recommended keeping disability- and income-based eligibility, adding an additional qualifying component for age-based applicants, and reviewing program fees and costs every two years to adjust for inflation as needed. The presenter said the changes, if approved, would take effect in January 2026.
Operations and partners: The presenter named three existing transportation vendors (Lodges, Ride Round Trip and You Serve) and said drivers receive ADA sensitivity and HIPAA training. County technology staff built Power BI reporting and an online registration and interactive map launched in 2022 that allow residents to enroll remotely.
Next steps: The presenter said staff will coordinate with constituent services on an outreach campaign and hold a community meeting to explain the proposed changes to riders. The presentation concluded and county staff indicated a follow-up microtransit update would be provided by another presenter.
Selected quotes: "This service changed their their lives and has given them back their freedom," the presenter said of rider feedback. "We currently have 3 transportation vendors that we've been working with for the last year," the presenter said when describing vendor support.
No formal vote or action was recorded during this presentation; the speaker offered recommendations and implementation steps but did not announce a board decision in this session.
