TRAM, Transportation for Rural Areas of Madison County
256-532-3792
Courthouse 736,

See Planning and Economic Development

TRAM is a federally funded Section 5311 public transportation program that is open to the general public. TRAM requires a 24-hour notice to schedule a ride. TRAM operates on a first come, first serve basis, be sure to schedule your ride as far in advance as possible. If you have a need for multiple stops, inform the scheduler and they will explain the process. The Madison County Commission provides matching funds to assist with operating expenses. The cost to ride TRAM is $9.00 roundtrip and $7.00 one way. Persons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, and/or have speech disabilities and use text telephones may call 711. Special operators will translate TTY messages into speech for non-TTY users and vice versa. There is no charge for local calls.

TRAM operates from 6:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Friday. TRAM does not run on county holidays. Bad weather can cause the service to run behind schedule, so please allow extra time before calling the office. In cases of extremely bad weather (i.e. tornadoes, snow, and ice) service may be cancelled.

Have the following information ready when you call for a ride:

1. Name, Phone Number, Pick-up Address

2. Destination Address, Time of Appointment

3. Number of Riders

4. If you need a wheelchair lift

5. If you need assistance to board the van, carry an oxygen tank, or require the assistance of a service animal

6. If you have a health problem that could cause yourself or others harm, such as seizures

TRAM wheelchair lifts accommodate standard wheelchairs. Please make sure to inform the scheduler if you have an oversized wheelchair. We will do our best to assist passengers with oversized wheelchairs, however all wheelchairs and passengers must be properly secured on the lift and on the van. The maximum weight allowed for passenger and wheelchair is 800 lbs. TRAM allows disabled riders without wheelchairs to use the lifts to board and leave the van.

If you need help getting to and from the van, please bring an assistant. Drivers are not allowed to enter any house, apartment, or building. They can only help you on and off the van.

If you need to cancel a trip, please do so at least 2 hours prior to your scheduled pick-up time. If you do not cancel, the ride will be considered a No Show. TRAM’s No Show policy states the driver will wait 5 minutes for you. After that time, your trip will be considered a No Show and a fee of $7.00 will be charged. Accumulating 3 No Shows within a thirty day period will result in a suspension of riding privileges for 1 month. Please plan to be ready 30 minutes before your pick-up time.

Here are some general rules of conduct for TRAM passengers:

1. All passengers must buckle their seatbelt, stay seated and keep seatbelts properly secured

2. Limit talking to the driver

3. Parcels and packages must fit under seat

4. No loud or offensive language

5. No offensive gesturing or touching

6. No electronic gaming/music equipment, etc.

7. No eating or drinking

8. No misconduct or abusive conduct toward the driver or other passengers

9. No smoking

10. No strong or offensive body odors

TRAM services may be interrupted for the following purposes:

Inclement Weather

TRAM service may be cancelled due to severe weather that could result in hazardous driving conditions. Check your local news for business closings or go to the Madison CountyCommission website at www.madisoncountyal.gov If the Madison County Courthouse is closed, TRAM will not run. In the event of severe weather, every effort will be made to ensurethe safety of TRAM passengers and drivers. The guidelines for severe weather are as follows:

1. Tornado Watches or Warnings
Weather radio and news channels will be monitored when conditions warrant a tornado watch. If a tornado warning is issued, drivers will be notified and instructed to proceed to orremain in a safe place along the route and remain there until the warning has lifted.

2. Floods or Heavy Rain
If rain is so heavy that visibility is impaired, the driver should pull off the road in a safe area, such as a parking lot, until the rain has passed and visibility has improved. Speed should be reduced. TRAM vans are not to cross a flooded road. The driver should notify the Operations Coordinator if a road is impassable, and they will work together todetermine an alternate route.

3. Snow or Ice
If a winter weather event severe enough to close roads occurs overnight, the driver should contact the Operations Coordinator for instructions. TRAM will not operate if MadisonCounty Schools and/or the Madison County Courthouse are closed. If opening is delayed, passengers will be contacted to determine if they are still in need of transportationservice. The Operations Coordinator will revise routes as needed. Full-time staff will report to the courthouse when it opens, even if there are no passengers that day.

4. High Winds
If sustained winds of 25 miles per hour are predicted services may be delayed or cancelled based on a review of weather reports by the Director, Grants Manager, and/or theOperations Coordinator.

When situations arise that relate to TRAM safety, evaluation of information will be made to determine what is in the best interest of TRAM passengers. If it is determined thatservice will be interrupted, passengers will be notified prior to their regularly scheduled pick-up time. All efforts will be made to resolve the problem so that TRAM may resumeservices as quickly as possible.

During the normal course of providing service to the community, it is possible that passengers and/or members of the public will desire to lodge complaints about the quality of transit service offered or the manner in which transit service is delivered. Every effort will be made to handle these issues quickly, courteously and fairly. All employees are reminded that everyone in the community has the right to express concerns about transit operations. One should also remember that the mere allegation of impropriety, however, does not establish proof that a violation has occurred. Every effort will be made to address and resolve customer complaints as quickly as possible but certainly within fifteen (15) business days.

Specifically, a "complaint" is an allegation by a member of the public that there has been a specific violation, misinterpretation, or inappropriate act by a member of Madison County Commission - TRAM. Vague or general charges of "unfairness" that are not substantiated by facts will not be processed through the dispute resolution system.

All complaints will be referred to the Grants Manager, Planning and Economic Development, Madison County Commission - TRAM for investigation and resolution. Complaints specifically alleging inappropriate behavior by management personnel of Madison County Commission - TRAM will be referred to the Director, Planning and Economic Development, Madison County Commission - TRAM. The following steps are established to provide a framework for handling these issues.

Step One The complaint is received by Madison County Commission - TRAM. Sufficient information is collected to allow an investigation and the individual is to be thanked for bringing the matter to the attention of the Madison County Commission - TRAM. Upon receiving the complaint, we will neither be defensive nor argumentative.

Step Two - Grants Manager, Madison County Commission - TRAM will investigate the facts, as presented, develop additional facts, identify (where possible) the employee in question and determine what actually occurred.

Step Three - If the complaint has merit, the Grants Manager, Madison County Commission - TRAM will counsel the appropriate employee and take the appropriate progressive disciplinary steps.

Step Four - Where applicable the Director, Madison County Commission - TRAM will respond to the individual filing the complaint within fifteen (15) business days. Depending on the desires of the individual and the nature of the complaint, this response may be either a telephone call (sufficiently documented) or a written response.

Step Five - For any egregious complaint, Grants Manager, Madison County Commission - TRAM will advise the Director, Madison County Commission - TRAM. A joint decision may be made to accelerate the disciplinary process or take other extraordinary actions to resolve the complaint.

Step Six - If the member of the public is not satisfied with actions taken locally or if they demand further action, these unresolved complaints will be referred to the Public Transportation Section of the Bureau of Multimodal Transportation, ALDOT in Montgomery. We will freely and promptly provide names, telephone numbers and addresses.

Mr. Joe Nix
Senior Transportation Planner
Alabama Department of Transportation
Bureau of Transportation Planning and Modal Programs
1100 John Overton Drive
Montgomery, Alabama 36110
VOICE: (334) 353-6421
FAX: (334) 353-6451
E-MAIL: nixj@dot.state.al.us

Step Seven - If the member of the public is not satisfied with actions taken by the state, they may contact the Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights Officer in Washington D. C. We will freely and promptly provide names, telephone numbers and addresses.

Federal Transit Administration-Office of Civil Rights
Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator
East Building, 5th Floor - TCR
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590

Step Eight - The Grants Manager of Madison County Commission - TRAM shall maintain a log of Title VI complaints received. The log shall include the date the complaint was filed, a summary of the allegations; the status of the complaint; and actions taken in response to the complaint.

click here for pdf printable version of Title VI Notice of Protections Against Discrimination