Disability Transportation in Massachusetts: Your Options

Disability transportation in Massachusetts includes ADA paratransit, such as MBTA The RIDE and regional transit authority services, Council on Aging transportation, MassHealth rides and private wheelchair and ambulatory rides. Carry On Services Inc, based in Braintree, Massachusetts, offers private door-to-door rides across Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Key takeaways

ADA paratransit eligibility depends on whether you can use fixed-route transit, not on a diagnosis alone.

The MBTA and 15 regional transit authorities provide paratransit to eligible riders in their areas.

MBTA The RIDE is a shared ride that you book ahead, and it does not function as medical transportation.

MassHealth rides need a provider-submitted PT-1 form and are curb-to-curb unless enhanced service is requested.

A private ride fills gaps in area, timing and help inside the building.

What disability transportation options exist in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has no single disability transportation service. Instead, several public programs and private providers cover different needs, and many people use more than one.

The main options are:

ADA paratransit from the MBTA and the regional transit authorities.
Transportation offered by a town’s Council on Aging.
MassHealth transportation for eligible members going to covered medical appointments.
Reduced fares on fixed-route public transportation.
Private wheelchair and ambulatory rides, such as those from Carry On Services Inc.

MassAbility’s transportation page states that the MBTA and 15 Regional Transit Authorities provide fixed route transportation to the public and paratransit to eligible riders in their service areas.

Local van services are sometimes called dial-a-ride. The name and the rules vary by town, so check with your town or Council on Aging.

The same page points to MassMobility, an information initiative that helps seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and others find transportation.

A quick way to choose

If you have MassHealth and need rides to covered medical appointments, start with a PT-1 request.
If you need regular trips on a public schedule, apply for paratransit.
If you need help at the door, in a wider area, or on short notice, look at a private ride.

This guide covers Massachusetts. Rhode Island programs are separate, so contact them directly for rides there.

How does ADA paratransit decide who is eligible?

ADA paratransit is a public service that the federal law requires alongside fixed-route bus and rail. The Federal Transit Administration explains that fixed route operators must provide paratransit comparable to their regular service.

Eligibility is about function. The FTA states that disability alone does not determine eligibility, and that the decision is based on the applicant’s functional ability to use the fixed route bus and is not a medical decision.

Each agency runs its own process, within broad federal rules. Those rules include written notice of the decision and a chance to appeal a denial.

The FTA also says paratransit service must reach origins and destinations within three-fourths of a mile on each side of each fixed route. So service areas follow the public transit network.

Useful details from the FTA’s frequently asked questions:

A rider may appeal a denial. The agency may require the appeal within 60 days.
One companion must be allowed, and a personal care attendant may always ride.
There is no limit on how many trips or legs a rider may request in a day.
Visitors eligible elsewhere may use service, for up to 21 days in a 365-day period.

How do the main options compare?

The table uses statements from each program’s official page. Where rules vary, it says to check with the program.

Option	Run by	Who qualifies	Limits to check
MBTA The RIDE	MBTA	People who cannot use the subway, bus or trolley all or some of the time because of a disability	Shared ride, 58 cities and towns, book one to five days ahead
Regional transit authority paratransit	Your regional transit authority	Eligible riders in its service area	Check with your authority
Council on Aging transportation	Your town	Varies by town	Each council sets its own rules
MassHealth PT-1 rides	MassHealth	Eligible members who cannot use public or private transportation	Covered medical appointments, curb-to-curb by default
Private wheelchair ride	Private company	Anyone who books	Estimate before you confirm, hours and area vary

Fixed-route discounts are a separate layer. MassAbility says the statewide TAP card entitles eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities to half price fares on most fixed route public transportation.

Smiling man using a wheelchair on an accessible ramp outside a building

What does MBTA The RIDE offer, and what are its limits?

The MBTA’s RIDE page describes paratransit that provides door-to-door, shared-ride public transportation. It is for people who cannot use the subway, bus or trolley all or some of the time because of a temporary or permanent disability.

It operates in 58 cities and towns in the greater Boston area, with hours generally from 5 AM to 1 AM daily. Braintree, Quincy and Weymouth are on the list.

Customers schedule one to five days in advance and receive a pick-up window. Travel times are comparable to the same trip on fixed-route transit plus an additional 20 minutes.

Because it is shared, you travel with other riders going the same general way. The page also states that paratransit may not meet all needs and does not function as medical or human service transportation.

The page also describes The RIDE Flex, which lets RIDE customers book on-demand service through MBTA partners Uber and Lyft. For other options, it points to the MBTA Mobility Center.

In practice, the booking window and the pick-up window matter most. Plan extra time before an appointment, since a pick-up window is a range, not a fixed minute.

If you have a time-sensitive trip, keep a backup option in mind, such as a private ride.

For medical appointments, MassHealth may help eligible members. Read our MassHealth transportation benefits guide for the PT-1 steps.

How do you apply, and where should you start?

Start with the option closest to your situation, and keep notes of every call. A practical order looks like this:

If you live in the MBTA area, contact the MBTA Mobility Center about The RIDE and apply if you qualify.
If you live elsewhere, contact your regional transit authority and ask about its paratransit application.
If you have MassHealth, ask your provider to submit a PT-1 form for each medical destination.
Ask your town’s Council on Aging what transportation it offers.
Search Ride Match, a searchable database of public, private and accessible transportation options, or call MassOptions for help choosing.

Applications differ by agency, so ask each one what it needs. It helps to have your contact details ready, plus a clear description of how your disability affects using buses, trains or trolleys, and the details of any mobility device.

Keep copies of everything you submit, and note the date of each call. If a decision is delayed or denied, your notes make an appeal easier.

Expect some waiting. The MassHealth page says PT-1 processing generally takes one business day and can take up to three.

Also ask about travel training. MassAbility describes it as a professional activity that teaches seniors, people with disabilities and others how to use public transportation.

For seniors, our guide to free senior transportation in Massachusetts covers the programs aimed at older adults.

When does a private wheelchair ride make sense?

A private ride makes sense when public options do not cover the trip, the timing or the level of help. Common cases:

The destination is outside a program’s service area.
The trip is not medical, such as a family event or an errand.
You need help inside the building or on stairs, beyond a curb pickup.
You need a ride sooner than a program’s booking window allows.
You are waiting for an application to be decided.

Carry On Services Inc provides private wheelchair and ambulatory rides, door-to-door, with help inside facilities and on stairs. Drivers use specialized stair-assist equipment, and rides are animal-friendly, including service animals, emotional support animals and well-behaved pets.

We give a cost estimate before you confirm, and you can cancel anytime. A free membership saves 10% on private-pay rides. We accept Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, workers’ compensation, cash, debit and credit cards, and we are now accepting ABI/MFP Waiver clients.

To understand the ride itself, read about chair car service and the levels of help in door-to-door transportation.

For safety, see how to secure a wheelchair in a vehicle, and what to look for before you book wheelchair van services.

How do you book a private ride with Carry On?

Call (855) 638-2568, or the Fall River office at (508) 642-3995. Hours are Monday to Friday, 4:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can also email support@carryonservicesinc.com.

Have these details ready:

Pickup address and destination.
Appointment or event time, and whether a return trip is needed.
Wheelchair type, or whether the passenger walks with an aid.
Steps, stairs or long walks at either address.

Trips outside the regular operating radius need 72 hours’ notice. Read about our non-emergency medical transportation services for the rides we run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a disability diagnosis enough to qualify for paratransit?

No. The FTA says eligibility is based on the applicant’s functional ability to use the fixed route bus, and is not a medical decision. A diagnosis alone does not settle the question either way.

What if my paratransit application is denied?

Transit agencies must provide written notice of the decision and its reasons, and an appeal process. The FTA says an agency may require an appeal to be filed within 60 days, so act promptly after a denial.

Can a visitor use paratransit in Massachusetts?

Under federal rules, agencies must serve visitors who are paratransit eligible where they live, if they present documentation. The FTA says an agency need not serve a visitor for more than 21 days in any 365-day period.

What is a personal care attendant on paratransit?

A personal care attendant is someone designated or employed to help the rider. The FTA says a personal care attendant may always ride with an eligible individual, and may not be charged a fare on complementary paratransit.

Does paratransit go everywhere in my town?

Not necessarily. The FTA says service must cover origins and destinations within three-fourths of a mile on each side of fixed routes. The MBTA lists the cities and towns it serves, and some only in part.

Is there a limit on trips per day?

The FTA says paratransit providers must provide all requested eligible trips, and a rider may take as many legs in a day as their schedule allows. Each leg may be scheduled separately.

What is The RIDE Flex?

The MBTA describes it as an on-demand option for RIDE customers, booked through MBTA partners Uber and Lyft. It is separate from the standard scheduled RIDE, so check the MBTA page for how it works.

Are service animals and emotional support animals allowed on public paratransit?

The FTA says transit agencies must allow service animals. Comfort animals are not required, though an agency may choose to allow them. Carry On Services Inc welcomes service animals, emotional support animals and well-behaved pets.

What is Ride Match?

MassAbility describes Ride Match as an online, searchable database of public, private and accessible transportation options in Massachusetts. You can search by city or town, or by start and destination addresses.

Where can I learn to use public transportation with a disability?

Ask about travel training. MassAbility describes it as teaching seniors, people with disabilities and others how to use public transportation. Your transit authority or the MBTA Mobility Center can point you to it.

Sources

Need a ride the public programs do not cover? Call (855) 638-2568 or book with Carry On Services Inc.