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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> If you have any problems with this (you suddenly were told you could not book a trip) you should contact Queen. She is trying to get reimbursement for the cost of these trips. This is a problem for some of our members, for example someone like Michelle who is in the health field, a field in which someone’s hours could change suddenly and MetroAccess would not work. Queen and the members of the AAC committee were not informed about this decision. <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 #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Rush, Denise [mailto:DRush@steptoe.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, August 12, 2020 8:46 AM<br><b>To:</b> Debbie Brown (deborahb14@verizon.net) <deborahb14@verizon.net><br><b>Subject:</b> Cab Service<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Greetings AAC Members,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>As a result of the continued challenges the region is facing from of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have implemented some temporary restrictions on the dial-up Regency and Silver Cab Abilities-Ride program services, i.e. the original Abilities-Ride services where customers were able to contact the companies directly for their trips.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Please Note<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Beginning August 8, 2020<<a href="tel:2020">tel:2020</a>><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>There will be no weekend trips on the program.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Beginning August 17, 2020<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>There will be no weekday trips on program.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Three weeks ago I asked both companies to begin informing their customers of these upcoming changes as they were booking their normal trips. Customers were advised of the dates and to be prepared to use MetroAccess for future trips.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>During this is a temporary stoppage we are asking customers to use the abundant available capacity on MetroAccess. The MetroAccess ridership has declined by nearly 70%. At this point, we need to use those available resources and not subsidize the use of alternative services at the same time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The dial-up Abilities-Ride programs for Silver Cab and Regency will resume as normal once the following occurs: (1) the region’s economy reopens and (2) MetroAccess ridership returns to near normal levels.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>If any members have questions about this temporary change, please call me directly. If any member hears from other customers with questions and/or concerns, please have them contact me directly. I can be reached at 202-281-8984<nxphone:202-281-8984>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Christiaan Blake<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Managing Director<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Department of Access Services<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>600 Fifth Streets NW<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Washington, DC 20001<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Denise A. Rush <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Overflow Assistant II<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#971B2F'><a href="mailto:DRush@steptoe.com"><span style='color:blue'>DRush@steptoe.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>+1 202 862 3810 direct | +1 202 769 6951| +1 202 429 3902 fax<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#971B2F;letter-spacing:-1.0pt'>Steptoe<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Steptoe & Johnson LLP<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20036 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#971B2F'><a href="http://www.steptoe.com"><span style='color:blue'>www.steptoe.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#971B2F'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>This message and any attached documents contain information from the law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP that may be confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy, distribute, or use this information. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this message.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>