Access-A-Ride

- 33-00 Northern Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

For many New Yorkers, navigating the world's most extensive transit system can be a challenge. For residents with disabilities or health conditions that prevent them from using the public buses and subways for all or some of their trips, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) provides a crucial, life-changing solution: Access-A-Ride (AAR).

Unlike a traditional "car rental agency," Access-A-Ride is officially classified as a Handicapped Transportation Service and a Transportation Service—it is the complementary paratransit service required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It operates as a shared-ride, origin-to-destination (or feeder) public transportation program for eligible customers across all five boroughs of New York City, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

This service is a vital lifeline, allowing thousands of residents, like the 85-year-old mother mentioned in customer feedback, to maintain their independence and travel reliably between home, medical appointments, work, and any of the city's five boroughs, from Brooklyn to Manhattan or Queens. The fare for an AAR trip is the same as the full fare on public buses and subways, making it an affordable, essential part of the NYC public transit network. Eligibility for AAR is determined through a formal application and assessment process run by the MTA to ensure the service is reserved for those who genuinely cannot use fixed-route services due to a disability or health condition.

The administrative and operational framework for this expansive citywide service is headquartered in a strategically central location in Queens.

Address: 33-00 Northern Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA

Long Island City (LIC) serves as an excellent central hub for managing the vast network of contracted carriers, vehicles, and customer relations needed to run the nation's largest paratransit system. Although AAR provides door-to-door (or origin-to-destination) service across the entire city, this Queens base is critical for dispatching, logistics, and management.

Crucially, in line with its mission, the facility associated with this service prioritizes accessibility:

• Wheelchair Accessible Entrance: Ensuring that all customers, visitors, and employees can easily enter and navigate the facilities.
• Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot: Dedicated parking is available to accommodate vehicles transporting individuals with mobility challenges.

For customers, however, it’s important to remember that AAR's service is about getting you from your point of origin to your destination throughout the five boroughs and limited parts of Nassau and Westchester counties, not simply traveling to the Long Island City office itself.

As a specialized Handicapped Transportation Service, Access-A-Ride’s core offering goes beyond typical point-to-point transfers to provide comprehensive accessible mobility solutions.

• Paratransit Service: The primary service, providing shared-ride, advanced-reservation transportation for eligible customers with disabilities who cannot use the MTA’s fixed-route subway or bus system.
• Handicapped Transportation Service: Utilizing a fleet of specialized, accessible vans and working with authorized car services, including wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs), to ensure comfortable and safe travel for all mobility needs.
• Public Transit Services / Transit Services: AAR operates as an integral part of the MTA's public transit network, offering a comparable service level to the bus and subway systems, including 24/7/365 availability.
• Bus Services & Rail Services Integration: AAR can sometimes offer "feeder service," where a van transports the customer to and from an accessible fixed-route bus or rail station to complete their trip.
• Service Animals Accommodation: In compliance with federal regulations, service animals are always permitted to accompany customers at no extra cost, ensuring essential support is always available.
• Emergency Response: While not a primary emergency service, the constant operation and city-wide network provide a reliable transportation option even during challenging or inconvenient travel times.
• Travel Training: A secondary service sometimes available to help AAR-eligible customers learn how to use accessible portions of the fixed-route system when possible, promoting independence.
• Party Service (Accommodating Guests): Eligible riders can bring one personal care attendant (PCA) who rides for free, plus one guest, provided the booking agent is informed in advance.

The unique advantages of Access-A-Ride focus on regulatory compliance, coverage, and the essential convenience it provides to its users.

• ADA Compliance and Mandate: AAR is a federally mandated service, ensuring that it meets strict standards for safety, scheduling, and accessibility, providing a guaranteed right to public mobility for eligible New Yorkers.
• 24/7/365 Operation: The service is available around the clock, every day of the year, providing the same hours of operation as the MTA's fixed-route subway and bus lines.
• Affordable, Fixed-Rate Fare: The fare is linked to the standard public transit rate (currently $$2.90$), making it significantly more affordable than private car services or taxis for daily essential travel.
• Flexible Payment Options: Customers can pay the fare using cash (exact change only, as drivers do not make change) or, increasingly, the new AAR OMNY ID card, which replaces the old MetroCard system and allows for touchless payment.
• Reliable and Caring Service: As noted by customers, the service is often delivered by caring representatives and drivers who "go above and beyond to get riders where we need to go," acknowledging the often difficult nature of travel for this user base.
• Wide Coverage Area: Service is offered throughout all five boroughs—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island—and extends slightly into Nassau and Westchester counties.
• No-Show Policy Flexibility: The service has a grace period for both the driver (up to 30 minutes after the scheduled time) and the rider (five minutes after arrival), with procedures in place to authorize and reimburse a customer for a taxi if a pick-up is unreasonably delayed.

Communication with Access-A-Ride is centralized through a dedicated toll-free number for booking and general inquiries, ensuring ease of access for customers across the Tri-State area.

• Main Reservations / Customer Service Phone: (877) 337-2017
• Mobile Phone: +1 877-337-2017 (Same number, accessible from mobile devices)
• Address (Administrative / Operational Hub): 33-00 Northern Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA
• TTY/TDD: Customers who are deaf or hard of hearing are advised to use their preferred relay service provider or the free 711 relay service to reach the main phone number.

Access-A-Ride is not a choice you make lightly; it is an essential public service you qualify for. For eligible New Yorkers, it is unequivocally "worth choosing" because it represents a legally guaranteed right to mobility that is comparable to the public transit available to non-disabled users. Its greatest strength is its specialized focus on Handicapped Transportation Service.

The service is indispensable for those who cannot navigate the subway stairs, endure long walks to inaccessible bus stops, or stand for extended periods on crowded vehicles. The shared-ride model keeps the cost at the same low fare as a swipe of a MetroCard or OMNY tap, which is paramount for users who often rely on fixed or limited incomes. The positive feedback, highlighting the "excellent caring service" and the immense help it provides to those with difficult conditions, speaks volumes about the human element behind this massive operation.

It is the only public transportation option in NYC that offers door-to-door, 24/7 service specifically designed and equipped for wheelchair users and those with other significant mobility, intellectual, or visual impairments. While customers must remember to book trips 1-2 days in advance and operate within the pickup windows, the value of reliable, accessible, and affordable city-wide travel for individuals who would otherwise be isolated cannot be overstated. Access-A-Ride is more than transportation; it is an avenue for independence and participation in the life of New York City.

Access-A-Ride

33-00 Northern Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA