D.C. disability transportation not working

Complaints from disabled riders of Washington's curb-to-curb mass transit service show a new company hired for the job reportedly isn't doing well.

The Washington Post says an unknown number of patients, some painfully sick, have been stranded by MetroAccess this week as MV Transportation begins its four-year, $210 million contract.

The service is part of the Metro subway and bus system, giving call-ahead service to 16,000 registered disabled riders.

The Post interviewed a paraplegic stuck at a supermarket for four hours, a physician with patients who couldn't make it to kidney dialysis and a blind lung transplant patient stuck at work, among others, all with the same story.

The Metro contract with MV Transportation came after an investigation into the previous contract with Logisticare Inc. showed rides were late or didn't show, management of the contract lacked oversight and bonuses to the company may not have been earned.

Metro officials just found out about similar problems with MV Transportation operating mass transit in California, the newspaper said.

Riders are suing Metro for allegedly violating the Americans With Disabilities Act.

© Copyright 2006 by United Press International