Transportation

PSESD Transportation McKinney-Vento program provides transportation services in our school buses to several school districts that are served by Puget Sound ESD, the program currently has nine routes that are dedicated to our McKinney-Vento students.  

PSESD's McKinney Vento Co-op offers nine different routes between the following School Districts currently:

• Fife School District
• Bethel School District
• Franklin-Pierce School District

Patty Sherrodd, McKinney-Vento Program Manager
253-778-7960
psherrodd@psesd.org

PSESD Transportation currently provides transportation services to 600 Head Start and ECEAP students within Pierce and King counties.  Transportation services are provided to those Head Start and ECEAP sub-contractors who do not have their transportation services provided through a local school district.  Please see below for a list of the centers the Program provides transportation for. 

PSESD Transportation offers Parent Professional Learning opportunities to current Head Start and ECEAP parents, who are interested in obtaining their Class B CDL with an "S & P" endorsement. Three classes are offered each year.  Parents in ECEAP and Head Start can contact their Family Support Specialist for more information on classes and schedules. 

Lynette Rosin, Early Learning Transportation Manager
253-778-7957
lrosin@psesd.org

PUGET SOUND ESD TRANSPORTATION EARLY LEARNING SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IN PIERCE COUNTY:

• PIERCE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES
  • BUCKLEY
  • BONNEY LAKE
  • ORTING
     
• BATES TECHNICAL COLLEGE
  • EAST SIDE TACOMA
  • PUYALLUP
  • FIFE

PUGET SOUND ESD TRANSPORTATION EARLY LEARNING SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IN KING COUNTY:

• HERITAGE HEAD START

• EDUCARE

• KENT YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES
  • KENT YOUTH/ELC
  • KENT VALLEY
  • BIRCH CREEK
  • ELC/DANIELS
  • JENKINS CREEK
  • PANTHER LAKE

BUS DRIVER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE!

PSESD Transportation operates the Road to Independence (RTI) Van Program. RTI operates five passenger vans.  The program is a no cost, door to door transportation service that operates in South King, North and East Pierce Counties.  The program serves adults who are low income, have special needs, veterans and seniors to various locations including work, medical appointments, and other critical services. (When permitted) RTI also provides the interoffice courier services to PSESD sites throughout the South King and Pierce County areas. 

RTI offers volunteer and intern opportunities for eligible participants.  Internships are eight weeks and are paid.  At the end of the internship participants are enrolled in the PSESD CDL training.  The training opportunity provides the skills necessary to obtain the license for the Class B CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements. The Road to Independence currently has interns and volunteers working through the program toward their Class B CDL training.

Parent Professional Learning Opportunities are available, three times per year.  Click here for our 2022-2023 Class dates!  

Davina Miller- Leach, Transportation Coordinator/Road to Independence 
253-778-7958
damiller@psesd.org

Road to Independence ADA Policy

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990.  The ADA is civil rights legislation which requires that persons with disabilities receive transportation services equal to those available on the fixed route service.

It is the policy of Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) Road to Independence (RTI) that, when viewed in their entirety, services, programs, facilities, and communications provided by PSESD RTI, directly or by a contracted service provider, are readily accessible and usable to individuals with disabilities to the maximum extent possible. 49. CFR 37.105

1.      Fare

Fare for PSESD RTI is as follows:

·         Eligible riders are not charged fare.

2.      Holiday Closures

PSESD RTI does not operate on the following nationally recognized holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

PSESD RTI program does not operate on any days that the PSESD main office is closed due to pre-scheduled non-workdays, snow closure or other days PSESD offices notify staff and public on the PSESD website that they will be closed.

3.      Accommodations for riders with disabilities

The PSESD RTI program can accommodate all riders with a vision or cognitive disability on our vehicles, which are typically vans. To accommodate riders who, have a physical disability and may require an accessible vehicle the PSESD RTI program has an agreement in place that they will refer these requests directly to Beyond the Borders program.
Approved Equipment on the vans would include canes, foldable walkers, and or knee carts.  All must be in good order.  Anyone needing wheelchair access would be provided Transportation through Beyond the Borders.

4.      Portable Oxygen Use

Individuals with disabilities who use portable oxygen devices are allowed to travel with respirators and properly secured portable oxygen supplies. Oxygen supplies must not obstruct the aisle. (49 CFR 37.167(h))

5.      Stop Announcements

Drivers will announce all stops upon request.  (49 CFR 37.167 (a-c))

6.      Personal Care Attendants

A Personal Care Attendant (PCA) may ride with a rider as requested. A PCA is someone who travels with, and helps, a rider who is not able to travel alone. You must provide your own PCA if you need one. Please let us know when you schedule a ride whether or not you will be using a PCA. This information will guarantee a place for him or her to ride with you.

Guests and companions may ride with you on PSESD at no charge if there is availability. (49 CFR 37 (d))

7.      Service Animals

A service animal is any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. In order to ride PSESD RTI:

·         The animal must be on a leash or in a container, remain under control of the owner, and behave appropriately.

• Birds, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, and cats must be kept in an enclosed carrier/container.
• The animal must remain at your feet or on your lap. It may not sit on a vehicle seat.
• The animal must not be aggressive toward people or other animals.  (49 CFR 37.167 (d))

8.      Boarding Assistance

Van operators shall position the vans to make boarding and de-boarding as easy as possible for everyone. Van operators shall provide assistance to passengers upon request. Passengers with disabilities shall be allowed adequate time to board and disembark the vehicle.

9.      Suspension of Service

A rider’s privileges may be suspended for any of the following infractions on any PSESD RTI vehicles:

·         Smoking or carrying a lit pipe, cigar, or cigarette.

·         Consuming alcoholic beverages or in procession of alcoholic beverages.

·         Loud, raucous, unruly, harmful, or harassing behavior.

·         Engaging in other conduct that is inconsistent with the intended purpose of the vehicle. (RCW 9.91.025)

10.  Van Transportation
a. Eligibility – A visual or cognitive disability, low income, and unable to access Public Transportation due to disability, residence, or job location not accessible to Public Transportation Route or having no safe way to reach the Public Transportation Stops.

b. Service Area – We currently service the South King County and Pierce County areas. 

c. Origin to Destination Service –
          Curb to Curb - customer taken from curb of pick up to curb of destination

d. Trip Scheduling – Trips may be scheduled between 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. between 7 days and 24 before trip. All rides are curb to curb.   

e. Trip Cancellation –A minimum of 12 hours in advance. 

f.  RTI hours – Monday through Friday 7:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

11.  Notification of Policy

PSESD RTI will notify the public of the ADA policy on all marketing materials and posted at the transportation site.

12.  Complaint  Process

PSESD RTI is committed to providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation options for the community. PSESD RTI has established a Customer Complaint Policy and customers wishing to file a complaint and/or obtain a copy of the Customer Complaint Policy may contact PSESD RTI at (253-826-1192), or in person at PSESD RTI’s Transportation office located at 1282 Valentine Avenue SE, in Pacific, WA (RCW 46.07b)

13.    Reasonable Modification

 Requests for modifications of RTI policies, practices, or procedures to accommodate an individual with a disability may be made either in advance or at the time of the transportation service.  RTI is best able to address and accommodate a request when customers make their requests for before the trip. Contact RTI before your trip for service for questions.

14.  Direct Threat

If a person is violent, seriously disruptive, or engaging in illegal conduct RTI may, consistent with established procedures for all riders, refuse to carry the passenger. A person who poses a significant risk to others may be excluded [from service] if reasonable modifications to the public accommodation’s policies, practices, or procedures will not eliminate that risk. (49CFR 37.5 App. D/ 29 CFR 36.208)

Behaviors that may cause immediate exclusion from the system include:

▪     Destruction of public property (the vehicle, and/or its furnishings)

▪     Doing violence to others or to oneself

▪     Behavior that is seriously unruly, seriously disruptive, threatening, or frightening to others

▪     Behavior that interferes with the safe operation of the vehicle

▪     Violations of service animal policy by failing to control one’s service animal

▪     Violations of operating rules governing the provision of transportation system-wide

▪     Engaging in illegal conduct.

▪    Other conduct judged by RTI to represent an actual or potential threat to the health, safety or wellbeing of oneself, the operator, other passengers, and/or transit personnel.

Passengers who have been excluded from the system due to a direct threat can request an administrative appeal by contacting RTI at 253.778.7958 

15.  Accommodations for Commercial Drivers License Class participants with disabilities

The PSESD RTI program works with case managers of all participants who are English as a Second Language Learners to ensure they have interpreters, as needed. PSESD RTI will follow Commercial Driver’s License guidelines that require all participants to pass a DOT physical and have a valid physical examination card in their possession prior to being accepted into the program. The PSESD RTI program follows the Washington State DOL guidelines below:

• Medical examinations - All commercial drivers must meet minimum medical standards established by federal regulations. Drivers are required to have a valid physical examination card in their possession any time they are operating a commercial vehicle.

If you do not meet the medical requirements but your condition is stable and you have a CDL, you can apply for a medical waiver for intrastate and/or interstate driving.

How to apply for an intrastate medical waiver (Washington State only)

1. You and your physician must complete all of the following forms:
   • Medical Examination Report for Commercial Driver Fitness Determination from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This must be a copy of the completed form; the wallet card alone isn’t acceptable.
   • Commercial Driver License Intrastate Medical Waiver Application. These forms are also available at your local driver licensing office. Be sure to complete the personal information and the description of your medical condition for which the waiver is requested. A qualified medical examiner’s signature is required, verifying the condition is likely to remain stable for the duration of the medical waiver.
2. Mail this information to:

CDL Medical Waiver Program
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9030
Olympia, WA 98507-9030

or
Fax it to 360-570-4915.

If you have questions, please call 360-902-3619.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Road to Independence ADA Policy please contact:

Jacque Mann, Director of Transportation Services
(425) 917-7886
jmann@psesd.org