ADA Accessible Service Info
Part of our commitment to the community is making RTS rides available and accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. ADA certified individuals can ride any RTS fixed-route service for free with a valid ADA card.
RTS also offers complementary door-to-door paratransit service in lift-equipped vehicles for those ADA paratransit certified riders who are unable to use the fixed-route service.
These rides are offered by appointment at a cost of $3.00 per trip. Please place your service request the day before your trip. Call MV Transportation at 352-375-2784 to set up your travel reservation.
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Part of our commitment to the community is making RTS rides available and accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. ADA certified individuals can ride any RTS fixed-route service for free with a valid ADA card.
RTS also offers complementary door-to-door paratransit service in lift-equipped vehicles for those ADA paratransit certified riders who are unable to use the fixed-route service.
These rides are offered by appointment at a cost of $3.00 per trip. Please place your service request the day before your trip. Call MV Transportation at 352-375-2784 to set up your travel reservation.
NOTE:
Consecutive trips must be scheduled a minimum of 60 minutes apart.
ADA Services Contacts
- MV Paratransit Service Reservations 352-375-2784
- RTS ADA Coordinator 352-393-7826
- Center for Independent Living 352-378-7474
- Rosa Parks RTS Downtown Station (RPDS): 352-334-2600
Rosa Parks is located at the corner of Southeast 1st Street and
Southeast 1st Avenue - The Division of Blind Services 352-955-2075
- Florida Relay Center 800-955-8771
- Comments, compliments or suggestions 352-334-2600
- Or if you want to use our RTS Comment Page
ADA Service Guides
RTS has prepared service guides for riders using or interested in its ADA service. The service guides may be downloaded using the links below.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print these documents.
- ADA Service Guide – Updated Jan 2025
Download related documents
- ADA Schedule – Updated 2024
- MV Rider’s Guide, Audio Version (mp3)
- RTS Rider’s Guide, Audio Version (mp3)
- ADA Paratransit Eligibility Manual PDF.
Wheelchair Policy
RTS or MV Drivers cannot push any manual wheelchairs over curbs or up stairs.
This is to prevent injury to our drivers and is a safety issue. If the rider has a manual wheelchair, RTS or MV drivers can push clients in wheelchairs up ramps or onto vehicles, if client and manual wheelchair weigh more than 350 lbs. combined the drivers cannot assist them by pushing or pulling their chair.
Drivers are not to operate power chairs or scooters for clients. Clients on scooters and/or in power chairs are responsible for maneuvering their own chairs onto vehicles.
The maximum amount our lifts on the fixed route can accommodate is 600lbs (chair and rider combined). The maximum our paratransit fleet can accommodate is 800lbs. While some of the newer fixed route buses have the upgraded ramps which can accommodate 800lbs, not all the buses have this feature and therefore RTS cannot ensure all buses on all routes can transport a passenger in a wheelchair or on a scooter whose combined weight exceeds 600lbs.
Therefore for driver safety and lift/ramp specifications and capabilities, passengers who exceed the combined weight of 600lbs must ride on the paratransit system. If the client and chair exceed 800 lbs. Our equipment cannot safely accommodate these riders and therefore they need to make other transportation arrangements.
Information Alternative Format Options
Information found on this website can be provided in an alternative format upon request. Please contact Customer Service at 352-334-2600 to speak to a Customer service or the ADA transit coordinator at 352-393-7826 or email the ADA Transit Coordinator at crawfordma1@cityofgainesville.org. RTS will provide the requested alternative format.
Emergency Services
City of Gainesville Emergency Shelter Information
If there is an impending hurricane, shelter information will be available by calling 3-1-1. It will also be available through the local media, including television and radio.
Special Needs
Those who have special needs should enroll in the Alachua County Special Needs Registry. The county will arrange for transportation and shelter for those who are enrolled in the registry. To enroll, call 352-264-6500.
Pets
Service animals are allowed at emergency shelters.
What to take to the Shelter
If you find yourself needing to go to a shelter, be sure to arrive prepared by looking at what you should take to the shelter.
Alachua County Ready Emergency Services
Visit AlachuaCountyReady.com to stay up-to-date with the latest information during significant or large-scale incidents in Alachua County.
Alert Alachua
This system enables the County to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods.
You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more.