ACCESS LYNX provides transportation under various programs.
Eligibility requirements vary by program. Program determination is
based on verification of the written application and may also
include professional verification and an in-person functional
assessment. Your cooperation and flexibility will allow ACCESS LYNX
to better serve you.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires any
public transportation system operating fixed route bus service to
provide accessible transportation for disabled individuals by
making all fixed route vehicles accessible to persons with
disabilities and providing complementary ADA paratransit services
for persons who are prevented from using the accessible fixed route
service due to a disability. LYNX provides ADA paratransit services
in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part
37. ADA services are an unfunded federal mandate paid for by our
local funding partners.
Program Guidelines
Fares
Trips where both the origin and destination fall within
three-quarters of a mile of a fixed route bus alignment will have a
fare of $4 per one-way passenger trip.
Trips where either the origin, destination, or both are outside
of three-quarters of a mile of a fixed route bus alignment will
have a fare of $7 per one-way passenger trip.
The reservationist will be able to tell you the fare for each
trip when you make your reservation.
Children
There is no age limit for ADA eligibility. However, minors must
be accompanied by an adult.
Additional Passengers
A Personal Care Attendant (PCA) is a person designated or
employed specifically to help the eligible ACCESS LYNX customer
meet their personal needs. One PCA may travel with an eligible
ACCESS LYNX customer at no charge. Eligible ACCESS LYNX customers
must be pre-registered as needing a PCA.
A Companion is a person who travels with an eligible ACCESS LYNX
customer but not in a care taking mode. Eligible ACCESS LYNX
customers may travel with companions on a space available basis.
Each companion will be charged the same fare as the eligible ACCESS
LYNX customer.
Additional passengers must be traveling with the eligible ACCESS
LYNX customer and have the same origin and destination.
Visitors
Customers that are ADA eligible with another transit provider
may use ACCESS LYNX by providing documentation of their eligibility
status prior to needing to travel. This same right applies to
ACCESS LYNX customers traveling to other communities that offer
complementary paratransit services.
Visitors who register with ADA providers may travel for any
combination of 21 days during any 365-day period, beginning with
the visitor’s first use of the service during such 365-day
period.
For more information, see our Visitors Information page.
Passenger Coverage
ADA paratransit services are provided to both ambulatory and
wheelchair customers. Please note wheelchair passenger limitations.
Service Area
Federal regulations require ACCESS LYNX to provide service when
both the origin and destination of each trip is within
three-quarters of a mile of a fixed route bus alignment. Our local
jurisdictions have agreed to provide the additional funding
required to provide ADA services to all origins and destinations
within the three county service area of Orange, Osceola, and
Seminole Counties.
No trips are provided to origins or destinations outside of
Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)
purchases Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation services for its
beneficiaries who are eligible for transportation benefits when
they are traveling to or from a Medicaid compensable service and
have no other means to access the Medicaid compensable service.
Not all Medicaid beneficiaries are eligible for transportation
benefits.
Program Guidelines
Fares
Medicaid trip fares are $1 for each one-way trip, unless the
eligible Medicaid beneficiary is:
- Under 21 years of age,
- Under approved institutionalized care, or
- Under a maternity related program and traveling related to the
pregnancy.
Children
An adult must accompany any child under age 15.
Additional Passengers
Medicaid eligible beneficiaries may travel with one escort or
personal care attendant at no additional charge.
Additional passengers must be traveling with the eligible ACCESS
LYNX customer and have the same origin and destination.
Passenger Coverage
Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation paratransit services are
provided to both ambulatory and wheelchair customers. Please note
wheelchair passenger limitations.
Stretcher services are provided by Medicaid with prior approval,
when it is the most appropriate mode of travel.
Service Area
Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation is provided to the closest
medical facility within Orange, Osceola, or Seminole County that is
able to accommodate the customer’s medical needs.
If a medical provider is referring a Medicaid eligible ACCESS
LYNX customer to another provider not in Orange, Osceola, or
Seminole County, they would need to contact our Eligibility Section
at 407-423-TRIP (8747), option 6, at least one week prior to the
out of area medical appointment. Verification with the
referring provider is required before approval can be granted for
out of area transportation. If we do not hear from the referring
provider by 3 p.m. the day prior to the appointment, the customer
will be asked to reschedule the appointment. The Medicaid eligible
ACCESS LYNX customer must be traveling to the closest medical
provider able to accommodate their medical needs.
Out of area trips require morning appointments.
Out of area transportation is available to:
- Other areas on Tuesdays
- Tampa area on Wednesdays
- Gainesville area on Thursdays
No out of area transportation is available on other days.
Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) customers are those who cannot
access a fixed route bus service or obtain their own transportation
due to disability, age, or income. It is a coordinated statewide
effort to group customers together for a shared ride service. The
state Transportation Disadvantaged grant that pays for trips in
this category is funded by a $1.50 vehicle registration fee and
voluntary donations.
Program Guidelines
Fares
Fares for the Transportation Disadvantaged program are based on
how far the customer is traveling:
- Less than 5 miles = $2.50 each way,
- 5 miles but less than 10 miles = $3.50 each way,
- 10 miles or more = $4.50 each way.
Children
An adult must accompany any child under age 15.
Additional Passengers
Eligible ACCESS LYNX customers may travel with one companion who
will be charged the same fare as the eligible customer.
Additional passengers must be traveling with the eligible ACCESS
LYNX customer and have the same origin and destination.
Passenger Coverage
Transportation Disadvantaged paratransit services are provided
to both ambulatory and wheelchair customers. Please note wheelchair
passenger limitations.
Service Area
Transportation Disadvantaged service is provided to customers
whose origin address and/or destination address is further than
three-quarters of a mile from a fixed route bus alignment.
No service is provided if both the origin and destination are
within three-quarters of a mile of a fixed route bus alignment.
No trips are provided to origins or destinations outside of
Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.
Reservations
Since Transportation Disadvantaged is a limited ride program,
reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, one day
prior to the date service is needed.
TD trips are prioritized based on need:
- Critical Care Trips
- Other Medical Trips
- Employment Trips
- Educational Trips
- Other Trip Purposes
