Improving Pathways to Transit for Persons with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities can achieve a greater degree of freedom when they have full access to a variety of transit modes, but this can only be achieved when the pathways to transit – the infrastructure and conditions in the built environment – allow full access to transit stops, stations, and vehicles. Since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, many transit agencies and governmental jurisdictions have made significant progress in this area. Policy initiatives, incremental enhancements, modifications, and other measures undertaken by transit agencies and their partners have significantly improved access to transit for persons with disabilities, others who rely on public transportation, and individuals who chose to utilize these services. This research study explores, through case study work, efforts that have been effective in improving pathways to transit. Interviews and site visits were conducted with five transit agencies, along with their partners, that are actively engaged in improving pathways to connect transit consumers – particularly people with disabilities – with transit stations and stops. These agencies are: Broward County Transit (Broward County, FL), Memphis Area Transit Authority (Memphis, TN), NJ TRANSIT (Newark and New Brunswick, NJ), Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Portland, OR), and Link Transit (Wenatchee, WA). Promising practices and/or lessons were identified through the case study analysis; these should be considered by any transit agency seeking to create improved access to its services for persons with disabilities

Overcoming Barriers to Accessible Transit

After the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, transit agencies across the country have since sought to improve basic operations and enhance existing services for better meeting the needs of transit users with disabilities. Despite the advancements that have been made with regard to transit and accessibility, barriers to accessing transit continue to exist for disabled persons. Most notably, infrastructure issues proximal to transit stops such as cracked or uneven sidewalks or a lack of curb cuts have created a significant challenge; many communities lack coordination between agencies and municipalities to address these issues and in a time of economic downturns and ever-budgets, it is common for responsible parties to neglect these responsibilities or pass them on to others.This study involved surveying approximately six-hundred transit agencies across the United States to explore details on ways in which they have responded to these challenges. Detailed case studies were then performed on two model agencies: Portland, Oregon's TriMet and Wenatchee, Washington's Link Transit. While the two agencies differ in size and resource availability, both have experienced success in reducing costly paratransit ridership and increasing fixed route ridership in the years following their accessibility strategies and efforts. Critical to their success, both agencies were quick to recognize the importance (and universal benefits) of improving access, understanding that improving infrastructure and access in public spaces improves the health and livelihood of all citizens. Second, they were successful in the way they assessed existing situations (either by using advanced data analysis tools or more traditional fieldwork methods) and were able to react accordingly. Finally, both agencies also demonstrated creative techniques in cutting costs by incorporating the use of unconventional materials or novel infrastructure treatment methods. In demonstrating a holistic approach to improving accessibility, TriMet and Link Transit were not only able to address physical barriers to transit, but psychological and information exchange barriers, as well, indicating that true success is measured not only by conformance to ADA standards, but in understanding the needs of all their users and adapting their services to meet those needs