Overview

SCAT provides service seven days a week between any two points in Suffolk County (excluding Shelter Island and trips which begin and end in Huntington, which are serviced by the HART paratransit system).

In addition to the curb-to-curb service SCAT will also offer Origin to Destination service. This service allows SCAT drivers to provide basic additional assistance to paratransit riders between curbside and building entrances. To receive such assistance, passengers must request it at the time they reserve their trip.

SCAT customers can also travel from Suffolk County to points west in Nassau County by transferring to Nassau's Able Ride service or connecting to the LIRR. Federal guidelines also allow travel on other paratransit systems in the United States up to 21 days per year (with an up to date SCAT-ID card).

Eligibility

You are eligible to ride SCAT if you have permanent or temporary disabilities that prevent you from using regular Suffolk County Transit (SCT) public bus service. All SCT buses are wheelchair lift or ramp equipped. Eligible individuals are those with disabilities defined by federal regulation and who:

• Cannot use SCT buses without assistance; or
• Cannot use SCT buses because the route(s) they wish to use are not accessible; or
• Have a disability that, combined with environmental barriers or circumstances, prevent them from using the Suffolk County Transit.

Once registered with SCAT as an "ADA Eligible Rider," you will be issued an I.D. card and number which will allow you to use SCAT as well as other ADA paratransit services throughout the country. Your SCAT eligibility must be renewed every three years.

If you have a temporary disability you may be eligible for SCAT service for a three or six month period of time. Temporary eligibility will expire when you no longer have the disability.

How to Apply

You can apply for SCAT service in any one of the following ways:

Option 1: Print, complete, and mail application to:

SCAT c/o Suffolk County Office for People with Disabilities
William J. Lindsay County Complex, Bldg. 158
725 Veterans Memorial Hwy, PO Box 6100
Hauppauge, NY 11788

If you would like to request a printed application, write to the address above with your mailing address.

Option 2: Call 631-853-8333 (voice) or 631-853-5658 (weekdays, 9 AM to 4:30 PM)

Once we have received your completed application, we will notify you of your eligibility status within 21 days. To be considered all applications must be completed in their entirety. The Suffolk County Office for People with Disabilities is also available to answer your questions regarding the application and/or the SCAT program. The SCAT application is also available other formats upon request, for example, large print or audio cassette.

If Your Application is Denied

SCAT has established an appeals process for individuals who have been denied SCAT service eligibility or have been given service suspension. Appeal requests must be filed in writing within 60 days of receipt of the denial notice. Persons requesting an appeal hearing may appear before an Appeals Board to present information supporting their requests. A final determination of the appeal will be made in writing within 30 days. The original notice of denial of eligibility will contain information as to where and how to file an appeal. Additional information on the SCAT appeals process can be obtained by contacting Suffolk County Office for People with Disabilities at 631-853-8337 (voice) or 631-853-5658 (TTY).

How to Ride

SCAT service is available every day of the year (including holidays) and runs Monday through Saturday, 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Sunday, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Reservations may be made up to 5 days in advance and no later than one day prior to the day you want to travel. Just call 631-738-1150 (voice) or 631-981-0104 (TTY).

Reservations will be accepted Monday through Saturday, from 7:00AM to 5:00PM. On Sundays, reservations will be accepted from 8:00AM to 4:30PM.

SCAT will attempt to schedule pickup times no more than one hour before or after the requested pick up time. SCAT is an increasingly popular service in great demand. When calling to reserve a trip, be prepared to offer an alternative travel time, if possible.When you call to make a reservation, please be ready to tell the operator:

• Your name
• Identification number
• The address(es) where you want to be picked up and dropped off as well as the closest cross streets
• If you are using any assistive devices (for example an oversized wheelchair, cane or service animal)
• Whether anyone else will be traveling with you
• The day and date of each trip
• The times you want to travel

Passengers may use our automated telephone line 24/7 to confirm or cancel current reservation(s). To use this feature, you will need to have your:

1. SCAT I.D. number handy
2. a touch-tone phone and
3. follow the directions when calling the SCAT reservation number.

SCAT reservation times are based upon a 30-minute pickup window. Passengers must be ready to board the bus 15 minutes before and after their negotiated pickup time. Because SCAT buses may arrive up to 15 minutes before your designated pickup time and will not wait more than 10 minutes from its arrival within the half hour window, it is possible the bus will leave before the scheduled pickup time. It is important to be ready to board the bus as soon as possible after it arrives. If you hear or see the bus outside, you or somebody can acknowledge to the driver that you know the bus is there.

Cancelling a Reservation

Cancellation must be made no later than two hours prior to your trip to avoid being considered a "late cancellation." Your trip will be considered a "no show" if a cancellation is not made and you do not make the trip. Emergency cancellations can be made any time. Please make reservations only for the trips you intend to make. Once your reservation is made, others seeking to travel when you wish to may be denied their request.

Please Note: It is important that reservations are kept or cancelled promptly if the system is to operate efficiently. If you are unable to use your reservation, please tell us right away. In order to keep the service available to as many people as possible, SCAT may suspend service to you if you establish a practice of 1) missing scheduled trips, or 2) excessive late trip cancellations or no-shows. SCAT will notify you in writing prior to suspending service. You will be given an opportunity to provide information and arguments supporting the continuation of your service. SCAT will provide you with a written notification of the decision and the reason(s) on which it is based.

For Out of Town Visitors that Use Paratransit

Suffolk County provides ADA paratransit service to visitors with disabilities who do not live in the SCAT service area. To ride with SCAT, visitors must present documentation that they are ADA eligible for paratransit service in the jurisdiction in which they reside. If the individual has no such documentation (of ADA paratransit eligibility), then the individual is to provide documentation of residence outside of Suffolk County and, if the individual's disability is not apparent, proof of the disability. A legible, dated letter noting your disability and signed by a doctor or rehabilitation professional is acceptable proof. Suffolk County must receive documentation of eligibility for paratransit service for out-of-town visitors prior to the first desired day of travel. To arrange for temporary visitor status for SCAT services, customers who are ADA eligible should contact the Suffolk County Office for People with Disabilities at 631-853-8337 (voice) or 631-853-5658. Suffolk County will need the following information:

1. Name, birth date, and home address as well as telephone, cell phone and business telephone number/s
2. If you use a cane, walker, crutches, wheelchair, scooter or other equipment
3. If you use a service animal
4. Whether you will travel with a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), a guest, or both
5. Emergency contact (name and telephone numbers) in Suffok County
6. Your address and telephone number in Suffolk County (including cross streets)

Suffolk County will provide eligible visitors with SCAT service for any combination of 21 days during any 365-day period starting with the visitor’s first use of the service during that period. Visitors who wish to receive service beyond this 21-day period must apply for eligibility with Suffolk County.

SCAT Fares

• ADA Eligible Riders: $4.00 per trip
• Companions of ADA Eligible Riders: $4.00 per trip
• Personal Care Attendants: Free Fare
• Children Under 5 Years of Age: Free Fare

Please have your fare ready in cash, exact change only. Our drivers cannot make change.