Purpose
The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), PL
101-336, is to extend to people with disabilities civil rights similar to those
now available on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion
through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination on the basis
of disability in:
- employment,
- services rendered by state and local governments,
- places of public accommodation,
- transportation,
- telecommunications services.
This brochure focuses on some of the major transportation
provisions of the ADA. Other provisions of the ADA are covered in other
brochures in this series.
Major Transportation Provisions
- Newly purchased and leased bus and rail vehicles must be
accessible. This applies to all publicly funded systems.
- Public-transit authorities must provide comparable services to
individuals who cannot use fixed-route systems unless it would pose an undue
burden.
- All demand-response service which is provided to the general
public, and privately funded fixed-route service, must purchase only accessible
vehicles unless it can be demonstrated that the service is accessible when
viewed in its entirety. The exception is privately funded fixed-route service,
which uses vehicles carrying fewer than 16 people.
- Newly purchased over-the-road coaches purchased after July 26,
1996 must be accessible. In the case of small companies, the effective data is
July 26, 1997. The President can extend this for one year. The bill commissions
a three-year study to determine the best way to provide access to over-the-road
coaches.
- New bus and rail facilities must be accessible. In altered
facilities, the altered area must be accessible to the maximum extent feasible.
When alterations affect a primary function area, a path of travel to altered
areas and restrooms serving altered areas must be accessible to the extent that
added costs are not disproportionate. Services provided in existing facilities
must be accessible when viewed in their entirety.
Rail:
- New vehicles must be accessible.
- One car per train must be accessible by July 1995.
- Key rail stations were required to be accessible by July 26,
1993, with exemptions available up to year 2020.
- Amtrak stations must be accessible by year 2010.
The ADA says. . .
Transportation provided by a public entity:
"No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of
such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of
the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to
discrimination by any such entity."
Enforcement
The Department of Transportation (DOT), is responsible for
enforcing ADA transportation provisions.
The
Access Board issued minimum guidelines for accessibility of new or remodeled
transportation facilities and new vehicles.
Timetables or compliance vary from section to section in the ADA.
Some features of the Act became effective almost immediately while other
features are to be phased in over several years.
Regulations and Information;
- ADA Regulations for Transportation for Individuals with
Disabilities contact:
Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil
Rights 400 7th St., SW Room 9100 Washington, DC 20590
888-446-4511 or 202-366-4018 - voice 800-877-8339 or 202-366-0153 -
TTY
Copies of the regulations will be made available on request in
alternative format.
- ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities, and
those for Transportation Vehicles contact:
U.S.
Access Board 1331 F Street, NW Suite 1000 Washington, DC
20004-1111 202/272-5434 - Voice 202/272 5449 - TTY 800/872-2253 -
Voice/TTY Alternative formats are available.
- The Office of Disability Employment Policy has other ADA
brochures and publications. Alternative formats are available.
Revised August 1993 |