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<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>I want to thank the members of the National Federation of the
Blind
of New Jersey and other interested persons that attended the forum to work
together to make a difference!</DIV>
<DIV>Your voices were heard and solutions to problems were discussed and a
plan
of action is underway.</DIV>
<DIV>Congratulations to all!</DIV>
<DIV>Note: The NFBNJ agenda committee has invited New Jersey Transit and
Access
Link to address the conventioneers at the 42nd state convention, Live The
Life
You Want; Blind With Vision in early November.</DIV>
<DIV>Information pertaining to the state convention and other important
posts
are located at </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference<BR>Joe Ruffalo,
President
<BR>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey <BR>973 743
0075<BR>nfbnj1@verizon.net<BR><A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A></DIV>
<DIV>Raising Expectations To Live The Life You Want!</DIV>
<DIV>Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.<BR>Donate your
unwanted vehicle to us by clicking <BR>www.carshelpingtheblind.org <BR>or
call
855 659 9314<BR></DIV>
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style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri";
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<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>***</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Hello Joe:</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Can you please consider distributing the following information from
the</DIV>
<DIV>NFBNJ Transit Committee to our NFBNJ distribution list?</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you,</DIV>
<DIV>Linda Melendez</DIV>
<DIV>Chair, NFBNJ Transit Committee</DIV>
<DIV>Cell: 732-421-7063 <(732)%20421-7063></DIV>
<DIV>Email: *lindamelendez220@gmail.com
<lindamelendez220@gmail.com>*</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>****</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Dear Fellow NFBNJ Members:</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Access Link, a form of transportation many of us rely on, is planning
new</DIV>
<DIV>ways for riders to book, cancel and pay for rides using technology to
do</DIV>
<DIV>so. Much of the information was shared at the Access Link public
forums</DIV>
<DIV>held last month and is summarized here as well. Details of these</DIV>
<DIV>innovations are included below and in the attached MS Word file.
Also</DIV>
<DIV>included are some statistics on the incredible volume of riders and
trips</DIV>
<DIV>made through Access Link as well as a glossary of commonly-used terms
and</DIV>
<DIV>protocol to use when arranging transportation through Access Link. If
you</DIV>
<DIV>have any questions or comments regarding Access Link please contact
the</DIV>
<DIV>Customer Service Department at 800-955-2321 Option 5 or by emailing
them
at</DIV>
<DIV>adaservices@njtransit.com.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>All the best,</DIV>
<DIV>Linda Melendez</DIV>
<DIV>Chair, NFBNJ Transit Committee</DIV>
<DIV>Cell: 732-421-7063 <(732)%20421-7063></DIV>
<DIV>Email: lindamelendez220@gmail.com</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>****</DIV>
<DIV>Highlights OF MAY 2018 ACCESS Link Customer FORUM Hasbrouck Heights,
NJ</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>· During the 2017 calendar year
Access
Link certified an additional</DIV>
<DIV>3,7 93 individuals for a total of 48,341 customers</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>· They received 2,432,457 calls and
58,347 email reservations and</DIV>
<DIV>transported 1,606,736 individuals in 1,454,327 trips.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>· This year, Access Link plans to
retire some older vehicles and will</DIV>
<DIV>purchase 483 vehicles including cars, mini buses, and standard
buses.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>· Currently, Access Link offers the
traditional call in , e-mail or</DIV>
<DIV>web-based options for making, cancelling or checking on status of a
ride</DIV>
<DIV>reservation as well as customer service</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>· All current features will remain
the
same when the new features are</DIV>
<DIV>enacted later this year.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEW FEATURES FOR AccessLink riders:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>A. *Shorter Window**: *Beginning June 30, 2018 the window
time
will be</DIV>
<DIV>reduced to 30 minutes.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>B. *Electronic Fare Payment*: Beginning September 2018
customers can use</DIV>
<DIV>their credit or debit card to pay Access Link fares. Customers can
transfer</DIV>
<DIV>money into a personal Access Link account, like an EZ Pass account.
When</DIV>
<DIV>making a reservation, tell the agent which method of payment you will
be</DIV>
<DIV>using. Fares still can be paid with exact change in cash when boarding
your</DIV>
<DIV>vehicle. When using electronic funds transfer, no money will be
deducted</DIV>
<DIV>until you have boarded your vehicle and are confirmed by the driver.
The</DIV>
<DIV>price of any cancelled ride will be credited to your account. When
your</DIV>
<DIV>balance is low you can transfer additional funds into the
account.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>C. *Manage trips using technology*: With an anticipated
start
date</DIV>
<DIV>sometime in October 2018, riders will be able to confirm and cancel
trips</DIV>
<DIV>over the phone without speaking to an agent. Customers also will be
able
to</DIV>
<DIV>login online and make a reservation as though they were speaking with
an</DIV>
<DIV>agent. If the time is not acceptable the time can be declined, and you
will</DIV>
<DIV>be able to search for another window time. Once you find an
acceptable</DIV>
<DIV>window time you can book your trip. For this feature to work customers
must</DIV>
<DIV>update their frequently used pick up location and their five most
popular</DIV>
<DIV>destination locations. Common locations such as Joseph Kohn
Training</DIV>
<DIV>Center, malls etc. will also work with online reservations. If
your</DIV>
<DIV>location can not be found, you will need to call Access Link to book
your</DIV>
<DIV>reservation. Riders should login non-common locations in their Access
Link</DIV>
<DIV>on-line profile as frequently used locations.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>D. *Texting ride information**: *</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1. Mobile users, including those who are Deaf-Blind, will
be
able to</DIV>
<DIV>receive ride details including window time and the driver’s estimated
time</DIV>
<DIV>of arrival by sending a text message to Access Link. This text only
number</DIV>
<DIV>will be established prior to implementation.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2. Customers can choose to receive a text, e-mail message
or a
phone call</DIV>
<DIV>when their vehicle is nearby. Access Link will determine the definition
of</DIV>
<DIV>nearby, could be 5, 10 or 15 minutes away. This decision will be
made</DIV>
<DIV>closer to the October target date. . Access Link is recommending
clients</DIV>
<DIV>choose the text message method because a phone call or email will take
an</DIV>
<DIV>agent off the phone. Remember the goal is to not tie up the phone lines
or</DIV>
<DIV>take an agent off the phone.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The NFBNJ Transit Committee would like to share some suggestions
regarding</DIV>
<DIV>Access Link:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>When making reservations and choosing a window time it is important
to</DIV>
<DIV>understand Access Link is a Federal Para Transit system that mirrors
fixed</DIV>
<DIV>bus routes and time schedules; if there is no bus route there is no
Access</DIV>
<DIV>Link.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We should manage our expectations by understanding we can be picked up
at</DIV>
<DIV>the end of the window and will have other pickups and drop-offs along
the</DIV>
<DIV>way because this is a shared ride service</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Be mindful of the weather, traffic and things beyond the driver’s
control</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Be ready when the window begins and give yourself ample time to reach
your</DIV>
<DIV>destinations when making your reservation</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Also cancel reservations so other passengers will not be inconvenienced
by</DIV>
<DIV>no shows</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Above all remind yourself that it is NOT the drivers fault when things
go</DIV>
<DIV>wrong</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>ADDITIONAL ACCESS LINK INFORMATION:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1. The telephone number for Access Link is
800-955-2321</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2. The email address for Access Link is
adaservices@njtransit.com</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>3. Booking your trips 7 days in advance could
help
in getting your</DIV>
<DIV>desired window time.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>4. Have all the required information needed
before
making your</DIV>
<DIV>reservation, such as window times, name of location, exact address,
cross</DIV>
<DIV>street and if you will be bringing a PCA.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>5. Have the agent taking your reservation put
the
name of your location</DIV>
<DIV>in the Additional Comments Section to make finding you easier for
the</DIV>
<DIV>driver. Some locations may not have their address visible.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>6. Never expect to be picked up at the
beginning of
your window.</DIV>
<DIV>Remember this is a shared ride service so please allow enough time
for</DIV>
<DIV>additional pick-ups and drop offs along the way in order to reach
your</DIV>
<DIV>destination on time.</DIV>
<DIV>Allow for transfers, weather or traffic conditions when calculating
how</DIV>
<DIV>much time is needed to reach your destination.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>7. Always be ready when your window begins.
Being
late can cause a</DIV>
<DIV>backup for the following pickups and drop-offs.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>8. Always cancel your reservation if you are
not
using the service; it</DIV>
<DIV>is not fare to the driver and any passengers who may be on the vehicle
who</DIV>
<DIV>are inconvenienced by a no show. Typically no shows cause others to
wait
a</DIV>
<DIV>minimum of 15 minutes for them in addition to the time it took to
drive</DIV>
<DIV>there.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>9. It is recommended to use the feeder
option
with multiple transfers.</DIV>
<DIV>Access Link will drop you off at the closest NJT Rail Station from
your</DIV>
<DIV>pickup location and pick you up again at the closest NJT Rail Station
to</DIV>
<DIV>your destination. Access Link will pick you up from this Rail Station
and</DIV>
<DIV>transport you the short distance to your final destination. Access
Link</DIV>
<DIV>will not charge for the Rail Station drop off and pick up because a
train</DIV>
<DIV>fare will be paid. Both the pickup and drop off locations must be
Access</DIV>
<DIV>Link Accessible.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>10. Group Trips: Please contact customer service when multiple
clients</DIV>
<DIV>will be making a reservation to be picked up and dropped off at the
same</DIV>
<DIV>location. For example; If a group of you plan to attend an event after
your</DIV>
<DIV>chapter meeting call customer service with all the Client ID numbers
so</DIV>
<DIV>they will dispatch as few vehicles as possible.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>11. This fall, Access Link online will be redesigned. At the
spring</DIV>
<DIV>forums, members of the NFB NJ who use screen reading software
volunteered</DIV>
<DIV>to assist in making the modern design an accessible one.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>12. Access Link has maxed out its office working space.
Therefore,
they</DIV>
<DIV>will be using technology to improve service. This can be a success only
and</DIV>
<DIV>help their overburdened phone system if we use the new features as
often
as</DIV>
<DIV>possible.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>ACCESS LINK GLOSSARY</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Here are definitions for some of the common terms that are used with
Access</DIV>
<DIV>Link Online.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1. Access Link Online is a self serve application that
allows
you to use</DIV>
<DIV>the Internet to confirm and cancel rides and to access other
valuable</DIV>
<DIV>customer and general information 24/7.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2. Date: The date for which the ride has been
requested.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>3. Drop-off Location: The address at which you will
disembark
the Access</DIV>
<DIV>Link vehicle.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>4. Estimated Pick-up Time: The current estimated time that
the
vehicle</DIV>
<DIV>will arrive. The estimated time is always subject to change and may
differ</DIV>
<DIV>from the scheduled time and may vary based on current traffic, road
and</DIV>
<DIV>weather conditions.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Password: The private code that you must enter at the login page to
gain</DIV>
<DIV>access to the online system. This is the same password that you use
with</DIV>
<DIV>ALICE.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>5. Pick-up Location: The address from which you will be
picked
up by the</DIV>
<DIV>Access Link vehicle.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>6. Preferred Space: The space requirement for you within a
vehicle (i.e.</DIV>
<DIV>requires space for a wheel chair)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>7. Requested Pick-up Time: The time at which you are
requesting
to be</DIV>
<DIV>picked up.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>8. Ride Status: The status for the ride can be one of the
following:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>a. Requested Not Scheduled: Your ride request has
been
entered into the</DIV>
<DIV>system however a vehicle has not yet been scheduled.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>b. Scheduled: Your ride request has been scheduled to
a
vehicle.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>c. Arrived: Your ride has arrived at your
location.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>d. Completed: Your ride has been completed and you
have
been dropped off.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>e. No-Show: The vehicle arrived for you and you did
not
come out to the</DIV>
<DIV>vehicle in the allotted 5 minutes that the driver will wait.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>f. Cancelled in Advance: You cancelled your
ride at
least 90 minutes</DIV>
<DIV>prior to your pick-up time.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>g. Cancelled Late: You cancelled your ride between 50
and
90 minutes</DIV>
<DIV>prior to your pick-up time.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>h. Cancelled: The ride was cancelled more than 90
minutes
prior to the</DIV>
<DIV>schedule window time on the day of service.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>i. Schedule Window: The range of time
determined in which Access Link</DIV>
<DIV>will arrive to pick you up. You must come out within 5 minutes of
the</DIV>
<DIV>vehicle's arrival.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>j. Subscription Ride: A subscription ride
is
a recurring reservation</DIV>
<DIV>from the same origin and destination on multiple days of the week at
the</DIV>
<DIV>same requested time. Example: I want to travel from my home to work
every</DIV>
<DIV>weekday between 7:40 AM - 8:20</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Regards,</DIV>
<DIV>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey Transit Committee</DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5"><FONT size=3
face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
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