Complete Regional Transportation Plan 2012 - Cape Cod ...

The transit needs of the elderly must also be addressed. Due to their limited mobility,senior citizens must often rely upon transit services to reach shopping centers, doctors’offices, and even employment. In many cases, senior citizens may not be able to walk toa bus stop or may need special assistance to board and ride. According to the U.S.Census, 23.1% of Cape Cod residents are over 65 years of age (compared to the statewideaverage of 13.5%). Local bus services seek to address these issues. All local buses arewheelchair accessible, as are many of the P&B interregional buses. Additionally, the Flexbuses have low floors and a ramp that can be lowered for those who need it. Seniorcitizens also receive a discounted fare. The transit routes themselves reach many elderlypopulations and destinations, especially in the Outer and Lower Cape. The Flex bus andB-Bus services can also meet elderly riders at their door. Moreover, because they aregiven priority, even senior citizens living away from fixed route services have access totransit through the B-Bus. As a result, the elderly on Cape Cod have good access totransit services.Many of the same issues confronting the elderly also restrict transit access for thedisabled. Reduced pricing, wheelchair accessible buses and demand response servicesare helpful. On the OWL bus, personal care assistants may ride for free if they registerwith GATRA. Moreover, both the RTA and GATRA have DDT information lines for thehearing impaired. Many improvements can still be made. Signs and other informationneed to be produced in large print and Braille for the visually impaired. Bus stops andshelters located on major roadways need to have crosswalks and pedestrian signals, withaudible and visual crossing cues. This will enable all users to access bus stops safely. Byimproving access for everyone, more people will be able and willing to ride transitservices.Much of Cape Cod is connected by bus transportation. The Route 28 and Outer CapeRoute 6 corridors are well served by local transit. Long distance routes to Boston andProvidence are also well covered by interregional service. There is also mobility betweenpopulation centers such as Hyannis, Falmouth, Orleans and Provincetown. However,local bus services in Bourne have no mobility beyond Buzzards Bay. Much of Bourne,Sandwich and North Dennis are also unserved by transit. Addressing these gaps willconnect more users to more destinations and improve mobility.Examining specific stops on each local bus route shows that bus services are reachingmany popular destinations. These destinations include shopping centers, beaches,senior and community centers, town halls, and post offices, and other transportationmodes such as air and ferry. Moreover, the number of destinations available to the useris increased by the ability to wave down or stop a bus anywhere on its route. This type ofservice provides a great deal of mobility in areas where commercial and residentialactivity is disparate.Transit services on Cape Cod also connect users to many other forms of transportation.All park-and-ride lots, except Sagamore, also serve as stops for local and interregionalCape Cod Regional Transportation Plan | August 2011Chapter 2.3: Bus TransportationPage 159