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November 7, 2004    DOL Home > ODEP > Publications > ADA Brochures

Americans with Disabilities Act Focus on Transportation

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



Phone Numbers