# Allegheny County MATP: Who Runs Medicaid Rides and How Transportation Companies Get the Work

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/allegheny-county/ · Updated 2026-09-30

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services runs MATP from One Smithfield Street in Pittsburgh, at 1-888-547-6287. It books door-to-door Medicaid rides onto ACCESS, the shared-ride system Pittsburgh Regional Transit sponsors, where four carriers each cover set parts of the county. A ride company gets this work through ACCESS and its carriers, not by signing up with the county office.

- Riders book ACCESS trips through the county MATP office and call their carrier for return trips and cancellations.
- Door-to-door MATP rides go on ACCESS, where four carriers cover set parts of the county under contract to Transdev, the firm that manages ACCESS for PRT.
- MATP was about one in five ACCESS trips in fiscal 2024-25: 161,528 of 867,197.
- ACCESS runs under a DHS waiver of 10 minutes early to 20 minutes late, with a five-minute wait, not the statewide 15-minute window.
- To get Allegheny MATP work, talk to the ACCESS program office and its carriers, and get your PUC authority first.

## Allegheny County NEMT at a glance

| Fact | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Who runs MATP | Allegheny County DHS, Office of Behavioral Health, Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh 15222 |
| Phones and hours | 412-350-4476 or 1-888-547-6287, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (DHS list updated June 18, 2026). Fax 412-350-2729. |
| State model | County hybrid, one of seven in the June 25, 2026 state study: county staff share the program with a transit vendor |
| Door-to-door carriers | ACCESS carriers AirStar, PRN, NAMS, and S&S, each serving set parts of the county (county packet, June 2026) |
| Service hours | ACCESS carries MATP riders 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, holidays included |
| Pickup window | A DHS waiver lets ACCESS arrive 10 minutes early to 20 minutes late, and drivers wait five minutes |
| Booking notice | At least two weekdays ahead by 4 p.m., up to two weeks out. Monday trips are due by 4 p.m. the Thursday before. |
| MATP trips on ACCESS | 161,528 of 867,197 ACCESS shared-ride trips in fiscal 2024-25, per PennDOT |
| Cost per ACCESS trip | $45.32 average cost and $25.15 average fare per shared-ride trip in fiscal 2024-25 |
| ACCESS budget | $31.7 million in PRT's fiscal 2026 budget (July 2025 to June 2026), up from $30.9 million spent in fiscal 2025 |

## Who arranges rides here

- [Allegheny County DHS, Medical Assistance Transportation Program](https://www.alleghenycounty.us/files/assets/county/v/4/services/dhs/documents/resources/transportation/matp-application-packet-for-adults.pdf): Registers riders, picks each rider's travel mode, and books MATP rides. (888) 547-6287
- [ACCESS Program Office](https://myaccessride.com/): Runs the ACCESS shared-ride system that carries door-to-door MATP trips. (412) 562-5353
- [Pittsburgh Regional Transit, procurement](https://www.rideprt.org/business-center/procurement/bids-and-rfps/): Sponsors ACCESS and posts the transit agency's bids and requests for proposals.
- Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh: Mails MATP bus tickets. MATP ride-hailing is booked on its other line, 412-436-9621. (412) 281-5474
- [Allegheny County DHS Solicitations](https://solicitations.alleghenycounty.us/): Posts the county's human services requests for proposals and bid notices.

In Allegheny County, the county's Department of Human Services decides who rides with MATP and how, and the rides themselves go to other hands. Door-to-door trips run on ACCESS, the shared-ride system Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) sponsors, and Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh handles bus tickets and a ride-hailing option. For a transportation company, the work sits with ACCESS and its four carriers.

## Who runs MATP in Allegheny County

Pennsylvania pays for Medicaid rides through MATP, which counties, their vendors, or transit agencies run everywhere except Philadelphia, where a broker does. The [Pennsylvania guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/) covers the state rules and the PUC authority every paid trip needs.

Here, MATP belongs to the Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health, on the first floor of the Human Services Building at One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh 15222. Its phones answer on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 412-350-4476 or 1-888-547-6287, according to the state's county contact list updated June 18, 2026. Walk-ins are taken from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The state's June 25, 2026 MATP study puts Allegheny among seven "county hybrid" programs, where county staff share the work with a vendor, usually a transit provider. In practice the split looks like this:

| Step | Who does it |
|---|---|
| Application and eligibility | County MATP office. Riders return the signed forms within 30 days. |
| Choosing the travel mode | County MATP office, which must pick the least costly mode that fits |
| Bus, T, and incline tickets | Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh, by mail |
| Mileage, parking, and tolls | County MATP office, paid after proof of the visit |
| Door-to-door shared rides | ACCESS, through its four carriers |
| Ride-hailing for approved riders | Travelers Aid, weekdays only |

The same study names Allegheny and Philadelphia as the two counties that schedule shared rides on their own systems rather than the statewide shared-ride scheduling software. Allegheny sits in the Southwest HealthChoices zone, where the physical health plans as of September 2026 are AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania, Geisinger Health Plan, Jefferson Health Plans EverWell, Highmark Wholecare, and UPMC for You.

## ACCESS and its four carriers

ACCESS has given door-to-door, advance reservation rides in Allegheny County since 1979, and PRT describes it as among the largest coordinated systems in the country. PRT's fiscal 2026 budget says the management firm Transdev operates ACCESS on PRT's behalf, books it as purchased transportation, and names who drives: commercial carriers and nonprofit community agencies under contract to Transdev. The ACCESS program office is at 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 440, Pittsburgh, and answers at 412-562-5353 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The county's rider booklet names the four carriers that drive MATP trips. Each serves specific areas of the county, and riders are told which one is theirs.

| ACCESS carrier | Phone in the county booklet |
|---|---|
| AirStar | 412-381-7230 |
| PRN | 1-888-634-8773 |
| NAMS | 412-781-6774 |
| S&S | 412-829-7627 |

### How big the ACCESS work is

PennDOT's report for fiscal 2024-25 (July 2024 to June 2025) counts ACCESS trips by program:

| ACCESS shared-ride trips | Fiscal 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| Seniors 65 and older | 430,699 |
| ADA complementary paratransit | 179,015 |
| MATP | 161,528 |
| Other shared ride | 72,762 |
| Persons with disabilities | 23,193 |
| Total | 867,197 |

That makes MATP about one in five ACCESS trips. The same report puts the average ACCESS shared-ride cost at $45.32 a trip and the average fare at $25.15, with 201 vehicles in peak service. PRT spent $30.9 million on ACCESS in fiscal 2025 and budgeted $31.7 million for fiscal 2026. Those are system averages, not what any one carrier is paid.

## The trip rules ACCESS carriers follow for MATP

The county booklet, current as of June 2026, sets the rules riders are told to expect, so they are the rules a carrier's drivers work to:

- **Hours.** ACCESS carries MATP riders from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, all year, holidays included.
- **Pickup window.** A DHS waiver lets the vehicle arrive up to 10 minutes before or 20 minutes after the scheduled time, and it waits only five minutes. That replaces the statewide [pickup window](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/pickup-window/) of 15 minutes either side.
- **Vehicles.** The ride may come in a van, a wheelchair lift vehicle, or a sedan, always marked with the carrier's logo.
- **Help at the door.** Drivers help riders up or down no more than four steps, and they do not shovel snow or chip ice.
- **Who rides.** Only riders and escorts MATP has authorized. Escorts are 18 or older, ride free, and are booked with the trip. Children under 4 ride in a car seat and children 4 to 8 in a booster seat, both supplied by the parent, who rides along.

Booking runs through the county, not the carrier. Riders call MATP up to two weeks ahead and at least two weekdays before, by 4:00 p.m.: Monday, Saturday, and Sunday trips by Thursday, Tuesday trips by Friday, and so on. Next-day trips are taken case by case before 3:00 p.m. the prior weekday.

Return trips work differently. A rider whose appointment starts before 2:30 p.m. may use a [will-call](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/will-call-trip/) return, calling the carrier directly before 5:00 p.m. once ready. Later appointments need a return time set in advance. The driver may arrive within 5 to 45 minutes of the call. Riders cancel with the carrier at least one hour before pickup.

## Where Travelers Aid and ride-hailing fit

Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh, at 343 Boulevard of the Allies, mails bus, T, and incline tickets to riders who call 412-281-5474 at least a week ahead. The rider's provider signs a Verification of Billable Services form, which must come back within 10 days, or future tickets stop after three misses.

Travelers Aid also books MATP ride-hailing, at 412-436-9621, for riders MATP refers and Travelers Aid approves. Cars come from two ride-hailing companies and a taxi company, on weekdays only, with pickups from 8:45 a.m. and return calls by 4:00 p.m. The drivers give no help, and the service skips pharmacy trips. Riders who need help from the driver, a wheelchair lift, or a weekend ride must use another MATP service, which for door-to-door trips means ACCESS.

## How a transportation company gets MATP work in Allegheny County

1. **Get PUC authority first.** Every ACCESS trip is a paid ride that starts and ends in Pennsylvania, so you need Public Utility Commission paratransit authority. The [state guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/) walks through it.
2. **Call the ACCESS program office.** Carriers contract with Transdev, so ask at 412-562-5353 how carriers are chosen, which service areas are short of vehicles, and when carrier agreements come up again.
3. **Call the four carriers.** Ask each whether it uses subcontractors or leases work to smaller companies, and what it requires. Our guide to [subcontracting NEMT trips](https://nemtguide.com/guides/subcontract-nemt-trips/) covers what to get in writing.
4. **Watch both bid pages.** PRT posts its bids and requests for proposals online. The county DHS posts its own solicitations and runs a mailing list. As of September 30, 2026, none of its open solicitations were for transportation.
5. **Chase the rides MATP does not carry.** Stretcher and ambulance trips go to the rider's health plan, not MATP. The plan guides for [UPMC for You](https://nemtguide.com/health-plans/upmc-for-you-pennsylvania/) and Highmark Wholecare cover that work.

ACCESS also carries more senior and ADA trips than MATP trips, so a seat inside ACCESS brings more than Medicaid rides. See [paratransit](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/paratransit/) for how those programs differ. Neighboring counties buy rides their own way: [Butler County](https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/butler-county/) works through a nonprofit that runs its shared ride, and [Washington County](https://nemtguide.com/states/pennsylvania/washington-county/) through Freedom Transit and its contractors.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the phone number for MATP in Allegheny County?

Call 412-350-4476, or toll free 1-888-547-MATP (6287). The DHS contact list updated June 18, 2026 gives call center hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Riders can also fax 412-350-2729 or email MATP@alleghenycounty.us. Calls after hours go to voicemail and are returned the next business day.

### Where is the Allegheny County MATP office?

It is on the first floor of the Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh 15222, run by the Department of Human Services Office of Behavioral Health. Walk-ins are taken on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and riders can drop off or mail their signed application forms there.

### How far ahead do I schedule an ACCESS MATP ride in Allegheny County?

Call MATP at least two weekdays before the appointment, by 4:00 p.m., and up to two weeks ahead. Monday and weekend trips are due by 4:00 p.m. the Thursday before, and Tuesday trips by 4:00 p.m. Friday. Next-day trips are handled case by case if you call before 3:00 p.m. the prior weekday.

### How can my company drive MATP trips in Allegheny County?

Door-to-door MATP rides go to the four ACCESS carriers, AirStar, PRN, NAMS, and S&S. PRT's fiscal 2026 budget says ACCESS carriers work under contract to Transdev, the firm that manages ACCESS for Pittsburgh Regional Transit. Call the ACCESS program office at 412-562-5353 about carrier contracts, ask the carriers whether they use subcontractors, and hold your PUC paratransit authority before any paid trip.

### What does Allegheny County MATP not pay for?

Its rider booklet lists emergency ambulance service, trips under a quarter mile unless the rider cannot walk it, hospital visits unless visiting a minor child, and trips to VA medical centers, mental health social rehabilitation programs, day care, sheltered workshops, WIC, and nutrition programs. Methadone trips go only to the closest in-network program unless MATP grants an exception.

### Does Allegheny County MATP use ride-hailing?

Yes, for some riders. Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh books ride-hailing and taxi cars for MATP riders that MATP refers and Travelers Aid approves. It runs weekdays only, with pickups from 8:45 a.m., and the drivers give no help. It does not go to pharmacies. Riders who need help or a wheelchair lift use ACCESS instead.

## Official resources

- [Allegheny County DHS: MATP adult application packet and rider booklet](https://www.alleghenycounty.us/files/assets/county/v/4/services/dhs/documents/resources/transportation/matp-application-packet-for-adults.pdf)
- [ACCESS Transportation Systems: ACCESS program](https://myaccessride.com/)
- [Pittsburgh Regional Transit: Bids and RFPs](https://www.rideprt.org/business-center/procurement/bids-and-rfps/)
- [Allegheny County DHS: Solicitations and mailing list](https://solicitations.alleghenycounty.us/)
- [Pennsylvania PUC: Motor carrier forms and applications](https://www.puc.pa.gov/motor-carrier/forms-applications/)