Transdev, an international public transit service provider, has been awarded a five-year contract to operate Valley Metro East Valley, Northwest Valley and regional paratransit, or Dial-a-Ride, service programs.

The contract award is $124.5 million.

Paratransit service is an alternative to conventional bus and rail services for people who are unable to use fixed route transit because of disabilities.

With last week's approval by the Valley Metro RPTA Board of Directors, two existing paratransit service provider contracts are being combined. Beginning July 1, 2017, the consolidation will result in one service provider that operates the service, accepts customer calls, verifies customer eligibility, schedules requested trips and maintains vehicles. Last year, improvements to DAR included the elimination of transfers creating a consistent, region-wide approach to serving ADA eligible riders.

Transdev will provide new fleet and new technology including the ability for customers to book trips on-line and by smart phone. Currently a provider of fixed-route bus and paratransit services for the city of Phoenix, Transdev also operates paratransit services across the country including cities of Kansas City, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC.

Paratransit services, operated by Valley Metro, are funded by Regional Transportation Funds (Proposition 400), Arizona Lottery Funds, member agency contributions, federal funds and passenger fares. . In Fiscal Year 2016, there were more than one million total boardings on paratransit services across the Valley.