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Purpose

The purpose of North Fork Rancheria Tribal Transit Program (NFRTTP) is to plan, administer, acquire, operate, and maintain a system associated with the public movement of people in the North Fork Rancheria Community.

Individuals interested in using the NFRTTP service should refer to the following policies and procedures. Guidelines may change as necessary and based on the availability of funding, but all registered riders will be informed of changes in policies and procedures prior to them taking effect.

NFRTTP services may be suspended or terminated at any time due to inappropriate behavior or misuse of service by eligible users.

Eligibility Criteria

The NFRTTP serves the North Fork Rancheria Community. The term “community”, for the purpose of the program, is defined as Tribal Citizens who reside locally, share a common cultural and historical heritage, and share a common interest under the North Fork Rancheria Tribal Government.

NFRTTP will serve Tribal Citizens in good standing with the Tribe that reside within the defined service area per Section 2 herein. The transit program will also serve other non-Citizens, which live on allotment/Trust lands in the North Fork area. Eligible riders may be accompanied by an escort/caregiver if necessary, and/or immediate family depending upon vehicle capacity. The NFRTTP is not intended to replace existing public transportation options, and is only to be used as a supplement to existing services or to service areas where public transportation is lacking or unavailable.

The NFRTTP is not a personal taxi service. The main objective is to provide transportation to medical appointments and other essential services for Tribal Citizens and those isolated on allotment/Trust lands. The NFRTTP service does not transport to and from employment or education except under emergency situations. Please refer to Section 6 for a list of eligible trip purposes and their priority.

Service Area

The NFRTTP will service eligible riders living within a fifty (50) mile radius of the North Fork Rancheria Tribal Government Office, and will transport to destinations within a 50 mile radius of the North Fork Rancheria Tribal Government Office.

Destinations exceeding a fifty (50) mile radius of the North Fork Rancheria Tribal Government Office will require approval by the Transportation Services Manager and will be granted based on the priority of the trip and on driver availability.

Days and Hours of Service
The days and hours of operation are as follows:

NFRTTP’s regular service hours are Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 5:00 PM.

High priority trips (see “Trip Purposes”) that require transportation beyond regular service hours must make their reservation by 1:00 PM at least two days before the ride is requested, and are subject to driver availability.

All other non-medical related trips should be scheduled so that the driver can leave and return to the North Fork Rancheria Tribal Government Office during regular service hours. Weekend, holiday, or special service requests will require approval by the Transportation Services Manager, and must provided sufficient notice or otherwise may be denied.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

 

• Medical Trips within medical services region

• Non-medical essential service trips

• Check on elders program

 

• Medical Trips within medical services region

• Non-medical essential service trips

• Check on elders program

 

• Medical Trips within medical services region

• Non-medical essential service trips

• Check on elders program

 

• Medical Trips within medical services region

• Non-medical essential service trips

• Check on elders program

 

• Medical Trips within medical services region

• Non-medical essential service trips

• Check on elders program

Please Note:

There is no service on Saturday or Sunday unless approved by the Transportation Services Manager.

There is no service on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Native American/California Indian Day (4th Friday of Sept.), Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas, and any holiday designated by Tribal Council.

Fare Policy

The NFRTTP service is free of charge to Tribal Citizens, those eligible to accompany a Tribal Citizen, and non-Citizens which live on allotment/Trust lands in the North Fork area. The service will require that all eligible riders complete a registration form to be kept on file for management and emergency purposes.

Trip Purposes

Requests for all types of trips will be scheduled on a “first come, first served” basis; however, medical related trips will receive the highest priority. In the event of a scheduling conflict, non-medical related essential service trips will be transported on a priority basis at our driver’s earliest availability. Trip requests with destinations nearby or in route may be transported together when feasible. Please see the list of trip priorities on the next page for further details.

FIRST

(Riders may call up to 14 days in advance)

Medical appointments with their escort/caregiver if necessary. When sudden illness necessitates seeing a doctor for an unscheduled appointment, call within 24 hours.

For emergency medical please call 911.

SECOND

(Riders may call up to 7 days in advance)

Social service appointments, grocery shopping, banking, DMV, or other necessary appointments

THIRD

(Riders may call 3 days in advance)

Tribal and town meetings, social events, visits to hospitals and nursing homes, or other events as approved by Tribal Council.

SPECIAL USE

In an emergency situation, riders may request pick up to reoccurring destinations such as employment or education not more than 3 subsequent days per any 6 months period. Emergency situations lasting longer than the three subsequent days limit require advanced authorization by the Transportation Services Manager. All such emergency requests are strictly subject to the driver and vehicle availability.

Reservation Procedures

Reservation Telephone Number: For reservations please contact the Transportation Department at (559)877-5520

Reservation Rules

Reservations must be made no later than 1:00 PM the day before the ride is requested. Requests made after that time may be denied.

  • Riders may not request a specific type of vehicle or driver. This is determined by NFRTTP; unless a medical condition limits access to certain types of vehicles.
  • Please have pick up and destination addresses ready when making your reservations. Please be sure the addresses are correct.
  • Pick up and returns are considered separate trips. There is a 3 trip limit (per day). Example: Pick up at home and taken to Dr. Office (1); Pick up from Dr. Dr. office and taken to Pharmacy (2); Pick up at pharmacy and taken home (3) equals 3 Trips. No Same Day Add-Ons. Please do not ask to leave packages in vehicles. All items must stay with passengers at all times.
  • NFRTTP will accept recurring reservations one month at a time for regularly scheduled appointments. Eligible riders need to call the Transportation Department at the beginning of each month to confirm recurring reservations for that month.
  • Notify reservation agent if you plan to have a child with you. Please refer to the Children Section for details regarding car and booster seats.

Operating Procedures (Please Read Very Carefully)
Riders will not be given an exact pick-up time, but a 30 minute period during which to expect their ride will be given. All passengers are expected to be ready during the 30 minute window time frame. For example: A rider requests a pick–up time of 8:30 AM. The Reservation Agent will give them a 30 minute window of 8:15 to 8:45 AM. (15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the stated time) The rider should be ready to go within the 30 minute window time frame.

The driver will wait five minutes. If you have an appointment, please tell the reservation agent when making your reservation and they will try to book your ride accordingly. Notify reservation agent if you plan to have a child with you. Refer to Children Section for details regarding car seats.

Before hanging up with the reservation agent make sure of the following:

1. The 30 minutes window time frame and date for your ride

2. The name of the reservation agent you spoke to

For medical appointments, please book your arrival time to coincide with your appointment. Provide your driver with an estimated duration of time given from your medical provider, and then call the number given to you by the driver when you are ready to leave.

Please note that requesting a ride does not guarantee that you will get a reservation. Reservations are “first come, first served” and if all rides are already booked your request may be denied.

Cancellations: If a passenger has to cancel a trip, he or she is expected to contact the Transportation Department or driver at least two hours before the scheduled ride. As long as the passenger gives at least two hours notice, the cancelled trip is noted only as a cancellation. However, if the passenger gives less than two hours notice of cancellation, it is recorded as a no show. “No shows” are different from cancellations.

No Shows: NFRTTP vehicles will wait no longer than 5 minutes after they arrive at the pickup location within the 30 minute pick up window. If possible, the driver will attempt to contact passengers on the telephone before directing the vehicle to leave. (When making your reservation, please make sure the reservation agent has the correct telephone number for where you will be picked up.) Return trips will be cancelled automatically for passengers who are no shows at the time of initial pick up. Passengers who are no shows are not guaranteed a ride that day if they contact the reservation agent. All no shows will be recorded and monitored.

Trips missed by a rider for reasons beyond his or her control shall not be considered in determining if a pattern of missed trips has occurred. The Transportation Services Manager will begin procedures to suspend riding privileges after an individual misses three (3) trips or cancels three (3) trips with less than two (2) hours notice (or any combination) within a 30 day period. Prior to suspending services the Transportation Services Manager will take the following steps:

  • Notify the individual (in writing) that the Transportation Services Manager intends to suspend service, citing the specific instances of missed or cancelled trips.
  • Provide the rider with the opportunity to explain the reasons for the excessive no shows or cancellations.
  • If the Transportation Services Manager considers the reasons for the no-shows or cancellations are insufficient, the Transportation Services Manager will notify the rider, in writing, of the suspension.
  • The initial suspension shall be for a time not exceeding 30 days and may be shorter subject to the Transportation Services Manager discretion and the rider’s ability to confirm that the practice will stop.
  • Once service had been reinstated, if an additional 3 no-shows or excessive cancellations occur in a 30 day period, the same procedures will be followed. However, the second suspension period will be extended to 60 days. A third series of missed trips may result in a 180 day suspension and a fourth series may result in a 365 day suspension.

Seat Belts: Passengers are required to wear seat belts at all times when in a NFRTTP vehicle. Passengers who refuse to wear seat belts will not be allowed to ride.

Animals/Pets: Only service dogs (Seeing Eye, etc.) will be permitted in the vehicle.

Children (General): Children may accompany a rider, but riders must notify the reservations agent if they plan to have a child with them and if a car seat is needed.

Children under the age of 8 must be properly buckled into a car seat or booster in the back seat.

Children age 8 or older, or who are 4’9” or taller, may use the vehicle seat if it fits properly with the lap belt low on the hips, touching the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt crossing the center of the chest. If children are not tall enough for proper fit, they must ride in a booster or a car seat. Per California law effective January 1, 2012.

The NFRTTP has the following car seats and boosters available. Riders must request appropriate car seats for their children based upon the child’s weight. If appropriate car seats are not requested or provided or if they have already been reserved, the child will not be allowed in the vehicle.

  • (1) Infants/Toddler-rear facing car seat
  • (1) Toddler/Preschooler-front facing car seat
  • (1) School Aged Children (under 4’9”) -booster seat up

Shopping Bags /Carry-ons

Space for shopping bags/carry-ons may be limited due to the number of passengers in a vehicle on a particular trip. In those instances, drivers have the sole discretion to specify the number and size of items that may be loaded into the vehicle based upon space limitations and safety considerations. Loading of large or heavy packages must be approved by the driver in advance for those same reasons. Drivers will be happy to assist you with getting packages on and off the vehicle, only.

Bags/carry-ons containing hazardous materials (i.e. gas, acids, caustic substances, explosives, etc.) are not permitted on NFRTTP vehicles.

Alcoholic Beverages or Drugs

Alcohol or drugs are NOT permitted in the vehicle, unless being picked-up at a pharmacy and remain in a sealed bag until you arrive at your final destination.

NFRTTP not transport any client under the influence of Alcohol or drugs.

Services Complaints

Complaints may be sent in writing or by phone to:

North Fork Rancheria

Attn: Chief Administrative Officer

PO Box 929

North Fork, CA 93643

(559)877-2461

Fax: (559) 877-2467