Charlottesville seeks firm to audit Jaunt 

There are three major transit providers in the Albemarle/Charlottesville community, and the City of Charlottesville is seeking a firm to ensure one of them is in compliance with federal procurement laws. 

“The City of Charlottesville is soliciting sealed proposals from qualified vendors for the performance of a compliance review of Jaunt, Inc.’s complementary paratransit service,” reads an RFP issued on November 1. “This compliance review will aid CAT in ensuring that Jaunt’s paratransit service provides all required services and maintains regulatory compliance as appropriate.”

Bids are due on December 1 and the initial audit and review are due on March 2025. 

The federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires any agency that provides a fixed-route bus system must also provide a paratransit service which means individualized trips to help people in need get around the community. 

“Jaunt’s paratransit service provides door-to-door transportation services for customers whose disabilities prevent them from using CAT’s fixed-route service,” reads the background of the RFP. 

People who are within three quarters of a mile of a bus stop are eligible for rides. Jaunt has both a reservations system where people can book rides two weeks in advance as well as subscription service to allow for regular pick-ups. 

Jaunt is a public service corporation founded in 1975 and owned by the local governments that fund the agency. Its Board of Directors are appointed by the other localities that hire the company for public transportation services. 

Charlottesville is contributing $1,933,090 to Jaunt in the fiscal year that began on July 1, with much of that being a pass-through of federal funds the city receives each year to ensure the ADA-requires service is provided. 

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