Affordable, accessible transportation is one of the most important issues facing individuals with disabilities in DuPage County.  Whether or not an individual has transportation available to them can make the difference between whether or not that individual is able to work, get an education, access necessary medical care, participate in the community or socialize with family and friends.

While there is some Fixed Route service and therefore, some Paratransit services as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Acb (ADA) operated by Pace, this service alone falls far short of meeting the transportation needs of DuPage County residents with disabilities.

The DuPage Center for Independent Living provides assistance and advocacy to help improve transportation for individuals with disabilities.

Individual Services

We assist individuals in identifying and signing up for the transportation programs to which they are entitled.  This can include providing help with completing the Paratransit Certification Process administered by the Regional Transportation Authority  (RTA)  Once certified under this process, individuals with disabilities in DuPage County may access Pace's ADA Paratransit services to travel within DuPage County in the areas where they operate as well as throughout the entire Metropolitan Chicago area wherever Paratransit is available.  Also, once certified, individuals with disabilities are entitled to ride for half fare on all Pace Fixed Route busses, Metra Commuter Trains, and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) busses and L trains.  For fixed route or train schedule and fare information, individuals may call 836-7000 from any Chicagoland area code (312, 773, 708, 847, 630 and parts of 815).  TTY users may call 312-836-4949.  Or, go to the RTA Website and click on "trip planner."  The telephone numbers to call to schedule Paratransit rides in DuPage County are: 800-713-7445 (Voice) and 800-713-7415 (TTY).  All Pace Fixed Route busses and Metra Commuter trains are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

In addition to fixed route and ADA Paratransit services, individuals with disabilities may be eligible for transportation services offered by municipalities, townships, social service agencies and DuPage County itself.  An exciting program which is now available to Senior Citizens and Individuals with Disabilities living in Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Naperville Township and Lisle Township as well as those receiving transportation through services offered under the DuPage County Transportation to Work program is Ride DuPage.  This program, some eight years in the making with plans to eventually be available county wide, makes transportation available to Individuals with Disabilities and Senior Citizens 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  There is one number to call to schedule a ride, with the actual ride being provided either by a taxi contracted to provide service under this program or an accessible vehicle.  What vehicle is used to provide the actual ride depends on vehicle availability at the time of a trip as well as the needs of the individual; if you need a lift equipped vehicle you'll get one.  The fare is $1.50 for the first six miles plus $1.50 for each mile after that except under the DuPage County Transportation to Work program where the fare is $3.00.

For more information about Ride DuPage, contact:

As new sponsors are added, this list will be updated.

As was stated earlier, in addition to Ride DuPage, there are other transportation services available operated by municipalities, townships and social service agencies.  DuPage County has published a Transportation Directory (PDF) which you can use to learn about all of the transportation services available in the county and how to sign up for them.  If you want to download the directory instead of reading it on-line, right-click the above link and select "Save Target As" when prompted.

Advocacy

The DuPage Center for Independent Living continuously advocates for more and better transportation for DuPage County residents with disabilities.  Individually, we assist with filing complaints and provide answers to questions from individuals.  We are represented on both the Interagency Paratransit Coordinating Council which oversees Ride DuPage and the Metra Accessibility Committee which works with the Metra Commuter Rail system on improving access to commuter rail services for individuals with disabilities.