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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> access [mailto:access@wmata.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 01, 2013 4:00 PM<br><b>Subject:</b> Metro Accessibility Update - 3/1/13 (Metro Awards New Contracts for Paratransit Service)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=881 style='width:661.1pt;border-collapse:collapse'><tr style='height:11.6pt'><td width=350 valign=top style='width:262.45pt;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-bottom:none;border-right:none;background:#003399;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:11.6pt'><p class=MsoBodyText><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout;position:absolute;z-index:-1;margin-left:0px;margin-top:41px;width:41px;height:52px'><img width=41 height=52 src="cid:image002.png@01CE18DF.7158C620" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"></span><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=532 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:398.65pt;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;background:#003399;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:11.6pt'><p class=MsoBodyText><o:p> </o:p></p></td></tr><tr style='height:62.6pt'><td width=881 colspan=3 style='width:661.1pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:62.6pt'><p class=NewsletterTitle><span style='font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Accessibility Update<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:27.05pt'><td width=371 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:278.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:none;background:#003399;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:27.05pt'><p class=NewsletterDate><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The Best Ride in the Nation</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=510 valign=top style='width:382.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;background:#003399;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:27.05pt'><p class=VolumeandIssue><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>March 1, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:684.85pt'><td width=371 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:278.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#0066CC;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:684.85pt'><p class=TableofContentsHeading align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>Metro awards new contracts for paratransit services<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'> Metro announced today that it is awarding contracts to five vendors who will provide its specialized MetroAccess transportation service for people with disabilities for a total of $86 million dollars annually.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>Using a new business model that created three categories for proposals, the contracts are within Metro’s current budget, and will be awarded to Veolia Transportation ($36.46 million), First Transit ($22.07 million), and Diamond Transportation ($9.79 million) for service delivery; to MV Transportation ($14.61 million) for managing the MetroAccess Call Center; and to MTM ($2.55 million) for management of an independent quality assurance function. All contract awards will be for five years, with a renewal option for an additional five years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>“The winners in this process are our customers who will receive services from companies that are being held to even stricter performance standards for reliability,” said General Manager Richard Sarles. “I want to thank the Accessibility Advisory Committee for its assistance in developing higher standards that our new contractors are required to meet.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=TableofContentsHeading style='margin-top:0in'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=TableofContentsHeading align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'><img width=307 height=215 id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image005.jpg@01CE1695.46E90EA0" alt=Picture1.jpg><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=TableofContentsHeading align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>Photo: MetroAccess vehicle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=TableofContentsHeading align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'><a href="http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5447"><span style='color:white'>Link to Press Release</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=510 valign=top style='width:382.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:684.85pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The contracts provide a new approach for determining when a paratransit vehicle is “late," as the contractor managing the scheduling and dispatching functions will share performance incentives and disincentives with the contractors delivering the service to customers. Additionally, disincentives for “excessive” lateness are strengthened in the new contracts. Trips that are delivered 20 minutes past the scheduled arrival time trigger the disincentive versus the previous standard of 30 minutes. The contracts also provide stronger disincentives for service that drops below 90 percent on-time, as well as incentives for service providers that exceed reliability standards. To ensure better compliance with customer service standards, Metro will employ a separate contractor to monitor quality assurance from the companies delivering service.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The contract awards mark the conclusion of a competitive process, which began with the issuance of a request for proposals in June 2012. The proposals were judged on a “best value” basis, meaning that both technical merit and price were considered, but with the greater emphasis on quality. All successful proposers will have local management for their portion of the contracted service.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>In addition to the service contracts, Metro will continue to fund vehicles, fuel, and insurance to provide paratransit service at a total cost of approximately $50 per passenger. Metro Transit Police will conduct fingerprint criminal background checks on all customer facing employees of the five contractors. Metro’s Access Services staff will manage the contracts, conducting fleet inspections, monitoring service on the street, and managing technology and scheduling efficiencies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“The transition to new contractors will be relatively seamless for our customers,” said AGM for Access Services Christian T. Kent. “We are not changing our operating policies, and the information and phone numbers in our Customer Guide will remain the same. Also, the management of our Call Center and client data remains with our experienced current provider. The real difference will be in the stronger resources that are being dedicated for improvement of service, and we will be holding our contractors to even higher standards of performance and care for our customers.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The new contractors for service delivery already provide paratransit services in areas across the U.S. Veolia Transportation operates paratransit service in 50 locations across North America, including Baltimore, Seattle, and Kansas City. First Transit operates the D.C. Circulator and in 37 locations, including New Jersey, Chicago, Jacksonville, and Columbus, Ohio. Diamond Transportation is a local firm that has provided MetroAccess service since its inception in 1994.<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:274.0pt'><td width=881 colspan=3 valign=top style='width:661.1pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#0066CC;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:274.0pt'><p class=Links align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-variant:small-caps;color:white'>Mark Your Calendars</span></b></span><b><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-variant:small-caps'><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>Accessibility Advisory Committee – <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>Full Committee Meeting</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>March 4, 2013; 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='text-indent:2.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>Accessibility Advisory Committee – </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>Bus & Rail Subcommittee Meeting</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>March 11, 2013; 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='text-indent:2.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>Accessibility Advisory Committee - MetroAccess Subcommittee Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>March 18, 2013; 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='text-indent:2.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>All meetings will be held at Metro’s Headquarters Building<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>600 Fifth Street, NW<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Body style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:white'>Washington DC 20001</span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=350 style='width:262.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td><td width=22 style='width:16.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td><td width=510 style='width:382.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>