Section 425.13a. Coordination

(a) Establishment.

(1) Coordination shall be established in counties in which two or more contractors have overlapping service.

(2) Coordination will not be provided if the Department determines on the basis of plans submitted or other reviews and studies or operations that coordination is not necessary to meet the objectives of this section.

(b) Counties. In cases where coordination is required, county governments shall be given the first opportunity to perform coordination activities, except Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties where the established transit authorities shall be given the first option and the county shall be given the second option. Except in Philadelphia or Allegheny County, if a county refuses to serve or designate a coordinator, the Department will offer the coordination activities to the area transit authority if it exists. If the process does not produce a coordinator by March 1 of a year, the Department may select a coordinator and enter into a contract for coordination of shared ride service in the county. In areas described in paragraph (1), the Department is authorized to contract directly and solely with the coordinating agency. If coordination is required but not yet in place, contracts between the Department and carriers will clearly indicate the temporary nature of the contracts and provide carriers with 60 days’ notice prior to termination.

(c) Private carriers. Private carriers shall be given the fullest opportunity to offer services in a coordinated system through a competitive bid process. If the coordinating agency provides some of its own services, the Department will reimburse the coordinating agency no more than the lowest responsible bid prices for comparable services.

(d) Objectives. The coordinating agencies’ objectives in providing the service shall be to:

(1) Determine the level of service required in the area.

(2) Maximize operating efficiency within the shared ride system.

(e) Responsibility of coordinating body. The coordinating body shall:

(1) Apply for program funds and enter into agreements with the Department.

(2) Develop and administer subcontracts with shared ride providers in the coordinated area.

(3) Select carriers based on the lowest responsible cost possible.

(4) Provide for the maintenance of client eligibility information.

(5) Be responsible for adherence to program requirements in this chapter.

(6) Develop and submit for Departmental approval an annual operating plan for the coordinated systems. Shared ride carriers shall be given the opportunity to participate in the development of the plan. Written objections to the final plan shall be attached to the final plan and submitted to the Department.

(7) Monitor the performance of subcontractors.

(8) Advertise the shared ride system under this chapter and provide marketing and promotional efforts to encourage group rides and coordination with other agencies.

(9) Comply with brokerage and other statutes, 52 Pa. Code Part I (relating to Public Utility Commission), except for transportation authorities and county governments acting as coordinators.

(10) Develop and implement a plan whereby senior citizens are encouraged to utilize free fixed route transportation when such services are available and represent an appropriate alternative to shared ride services.

(f) Centralized control. If cost effective and efficient to do so, the coordinator shall consider developing and implementing a plan for greater centralized control of certain shared ride activities, such as reservations, scheduling and dispatching of vehicles.

(g) Coordination plan. As part of its application to the Department for participation in the shared-ride program, the coordinator shall prepare and submit, for Department approval, a coordination plan describing its objectives, responsibilities as presented in subsection (e) and if applicable, subsection (f).

(h) Reimbursement. The coordinators shall be reimbursed for services by the Department in accordance with the terms and conditions of a contract agreed upon by the coordinator and the Department. The amount of reimbursement provided shall reflect the level and type of services provided by the coordinator. The coordinator shall make every effort to offset any additional cost of coordination through improved operating efficiencies and achieving the lowest responsible cost possible for shared ride services.

(i) Responsibility of coordinating body. The selection of subcontractors and the determination of the need for and the provision of cost effective services shall be the responsibility of the coordinating body.

The provisions of this § 425.13a adopted November 7, 1986, effective November 8, 1986, 16 Pa.B. 4414; readopted December 28, 1990, effective December 29, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 6391. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (122915) to (122917).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 425.13a issued under section 205(5)(v) of the Pennsylvania Urban Mass Transportation Law (55 P. S. § 600.205(5)(v)).

Notes of Decisions

Department of Transportation did not violate notice provisions of the Commonwealth Documents Law (45 P. S. § § 1201—1202) where final regulations did not enlarge purpose of proposed regulations; further, regulations were promulgated according to provisions of Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. § § 745.1—745.4), and did not exceed authority of PennDOT. Brocal Corporation v. Department of Transportation, 528 A.2d 114 (Pa. 1987).

Cross References

This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 425.4 (relating to eligible services); 67 Pa. Code § 425.7 (relating to fares); 67 Pa. Code § 425.11 (relating to data collection); 67 Pa. Code § 425.13 (relating to third party sponsorship); and 61 Pa. Code § 425.16 (relating to transition provision).