Transportation Resources in Los Angeles County

Regional Centers, Senior Centers, Independent Living Centers, Non-Profit Case Management organizations, and 211 Info Line can assist with finding resources for transportation:

Senior Centers, Independent Living Centers and Regional Centers participate in a program, which gives taxi vouchers and bus tokens to consumers who need them.   Each taxi voucher is worth $7.00 and is good for 2.8 miles. An individual can receive only 4 coupons a month and no more than two coupons may be used in a single one-way trip. For longer trips, the consumer would have to make up the difference for the full cost of the trip.

This program can also provide up to 10 bus tokens per month per person. Each token is worth $1.35, the cost of one MTA ride (also accepted by some other bus lines.)

The regional centers who participate in this program usually run out of coupons and tokens by the middle of the month.  They are distributed on a “first come, first served” basis.

Sometimes when there are no other alternatives, and there is a really unusual situation (such as late at night, or serious illness), some centers may purchase a private taxi or lift-equipped van ride for an individual. This is usually considered a “last resort”.

SOME COUNTYWIDE RESOURCES AND REFERRAL SERVICES

CITY RIDE (Call 808-RIDE from the 213,310, 323 or 818 area codes for general

information.)

The City Ride program is open to adults who live in the City of Los Angeles (including the San Fernando Valley) and who either have a disability or are aged 65 or older. An MTA disabled identification card or a doctor’s note can be used as proof of having a disability. 

RIDE INFO (800-431-7882)

This is a referral service that matches an individual’s transportation needs with available accessible transportation within Los Angeles County. This service is free of charge. Referral hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Faith Based Organizations like Catholic Charities, Jewish Family Services and Lutheran Social Services have similar programs for finding transportation. 

SENIOR MULTI-PURPOSE CENTERS (213-368-4000)

For door to door services, they have specialized transportation services available on a limited basis. There are 16 Multi-Purpose Centers in the City of Los Angeles. Call the City Department of Aging at the number above for the one that serves the area you live in.  These centers serve senior citizens and people with disabilities (who do not have to be senior citizens). There is an application process, which requires certification of your disability. The service is very local, usually within 5 to 10 miles of the center. Their vans run limited daytime hours, Monday through Fridays only. Hours vary from center to center. Procedures also vary, some requiring you to call the morning before you need the ride, some requiring 2 days before. A donation is requested each way, but no one is turned away if they cannot pay.  

DIAL-A-RIDE Services: Many local cities provide taxi or van services that will transport individuals to locations within that city’s boundaries, or to major hospitals nearby (for non-emergencies). Most offer service during daytime hours only and are either free or for a very low cost.

The County of Los Angeles Area Agency on Aging currently does not have a similar program.

Ride Info:

Call 800-431-7882 for information about Dial-A-Ride programs in your area.

Access Services, Inc., 800-827-0829—Los Angeles County’s paratransit curb-to-curb service for riders with disabilities who meet their eligibility criteria.

1-800-COMMUTE (266-6883) - An automated system that allows you to use your phone to link to information, routes and timetables from over 40 bus, ridesharing, highway, and bicycle agencies. (Text telephone service is 800-252-9040.) You can also find them on the internet at www.smart-traveler.com

MTA’s Wheelchair Lift Hotline: 800-621-7828 One hour before traveling on a particular bus route, a rider who uses a wheelchair can call this number to ask if the lift is currently working. While you wait on the phone, they contact the driver of the bus that is most likely to be at your intersection at the time you want, to make sure the lift is working.

If you are a Regional Center Client there are special programs through your center service coordinator. He or she is the person who can help with arrangements and funding. 

1.  Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center 

626-299-4896

2.  Harbor Regional Center

310-543-0687

3.  Lanterman Regional Center

213-383-1300

4.  North Los Angeles County Regional Center

818-778-1900

5.  San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center 

909-620-7722

6.  South Central Los Angeles Regional Center

 213-744-8495

7.  Westside Regional Center

 310-258-4045

Provided by: Developmental Disabilities Area Board 10

411 N. Central Avenue, Suite 620

Glendale, CA. 91203

818-543-4631

Some individual cities provide services for seniors and people with disabilities regarding transportation needs.  For example, the City of Paramount lists the following for transportation requests:

Long Beach Volunteer Center (562) 590 - 8844

Southern California Independent Living Center (562) 862-6531  

Some Individual Cities have resources for consumers with transportation needs For example, the City of Paramount has the following available in their city:

Easy Rider Shuttle

(562) 633-2904

Paramount's Easy Rider Shuttle is an easy and quick way to get around town. For only $0.50, the purple shuttle will transport residents along a fixed route throughout town, hitting all of the prominent spots like Wal-Mart, Paramount High School, and City parks.

Dial-A-Ride

(562) 633-2904

For those that need assistance going to a specific location not along any particular bus route, Dial-A-Ride is the ticket. Call Laidlaw Transportation 48 hours in advance of an appointment for door-to-door pickup and drop-off service.

Taxi Voucher

First call for information about the taxi voucher program and how to get the booklets: (562) 220-2127

Paramount's taxi voucher program was designed to help seniors and disabled residents make their medical appointments to out-of-town medical centers (within an approximate 5-mile radius). After purchasing a booklet of vouchers, residents call the local taxi service at (877) 933-3396 to arrange for pickup.

MTA

1-800-COMMUTE

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) runs buses on Alondra Blvd., Rosecrans Ave., Paramount Blvd. and Lakewood Blvd. Visit www.mta.net to view MTA bus schedules and stop locations in Paramount.