Chapter F5 Passenger transport

F5.12 Total Mobility scheme

Introduction

The Total Mobility scheme was announced by the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Disability Issues in August 2005.

The scheme provides enhanced funding assistance for regional authorities that sign up to the scheme. The funding assistance is subject to regional authority funding for Total Mobility not falling below the budgeted 2005/06 level.

The scheme consists of two phases, with a possible third phase following further direction from the Ministry of Transport.

Purpose of the scheme

The purpose of the Total Mobility scheme is to enhance community participation for eligible people with impairments by providing access to appropriate transport. Assistance is provided in the form of subsidised door-to-door transport services wherever Total Mobility scheme transport providers operate.

Provision of a subsidised transport service to eligible people with impairments is consistent with local government responsibilities to the transport disadvantaged, and part of core business.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria for the Total Mobility scheme are that an eligible person must have an impairment that prevents them from undertaking any one or more of the following five components of a journey unaccompanied, on a bus, train or ferry in a safe and dignified manner:

• getting to the place from where the transport departs
• getting onto the transport
• riding securely
• getting off the transport
• getting to the destination.

Internet resources

The following resources are available:

• Total Mobility scheme: A guide for local authorities, which explains the scheme in detail
• guidelines for contracts between regional authorities and assessment agencies to ensure high-quality and consistent assessments
• guidelines for contracts between regional authorities and Total Mobility scheme transport operators to ensure high-quality and adequate service levels, including the provision of wheelchair-accessible taxis within the fleets
• a handbook, including best practice guidelines, to help assessors consistently apply the eligibility criteria
• an appropriate regime to ensure that wheelchair hoists meet acceptable safety standards.

Phase 1 of the Total Mobility scheme

To qualify for phase 1 funding assistance, the Total Mobility scheme implemented in a regional authority area must meet the following conditions:

• People with impairments who meet the eligibility criteria, but are able to use bus, train or ferry services some of the time, must be eligible for the scheme (eg people with impairments such as epilepsy or arthritis).
• people who meet the eligibility criteria and have an impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, for six months or more must be eligible for the scheme.
• Children with impairments who meet the eligibility criteria must be eligible for the scheme.
• People with impairments who meet the eligibility criteria and live in residential care must be eligible for the scheme.
• The Total Mobility scheme must have no minimum fare threshold.
• There must be no restrictions on the purpose of the trip for the Total Mobility scheme.

Note: The Total Mobility scheme is not intended to be a substitute for transport services that are the responsibility of:

• other government agencies such as the Ministry of Education, which is responsible for all school-related travel.
• rest home providers, or be used by the rest home to provide transport for organised activities.

Phase 2 of the Total Mobility scheme

To qualify for phase 2 funding assistance, the Total Mobility scheme implemented in a regional authority area must meet the following additional conditions:

• Regional authorities determine maximum subsidised fares for the Total Mobility scheme in negotiation with the NZTA, taking into account the New Zealand travel survey, and review them at least every three years.
• Town boundary travel restrictions for the Total Mobility scheme are removed and replaced with a maximum subsidised fare.
• Regional authorities are encouraged to take into consideration the following when allocating Total Mobility trips:
  • the needs of the individual user
  • budget constraints of the regional authority
  • alignment with other regions' methods of trip allocation.
• Regional authorities enter into contracts with assessment agencies, aligned with guidelines produced by the NZTA.
• Appropriate training is provided to assessment facilitators to assist in the consistent application of the eligibility criteria.
• Potential members of the Total Mobility scheme have the option to be assessed by a voluntary disability sector agency in every region.
• Regional authorities establish systems for data collection, monitoring and evaluation.
• Regional authorities improve their administration systems for the allocation and redemption of trip entitlement vouchers.
• Regional authorities enter into contracts with transport operators, aligned with guidelines produced by the NZTA.
• Regional authorities investigate the possibility of contracting taxi services operating in areas that are not currently covered by the Total Mobility scheme, to provide a scheme service.