Federal Bill Proposes $10 Billion for Transit Accessibility

The All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act aims to bring all transit stations up to ADA standards and improve accessibility on the nation's passenger rail systems. Jason Plautz reports on the bill for Smart Cities Dive.

"According to data from the FTA, nearly 20% of the nation’s transit stations were not ADA accessible in 2019, the most recent year data was available." In New York City, "200,000 disabled New Yorkers lived in neighborhoods without an accessible station." The bill would create a $10 billion grant program to help local and regional agencies address accessibility issues.

"Smaller systems may struggle to gather the funding it takes to retrofit stations built before the ADA was passed. Under the ADA, transportation facilities built after January 25, 1992, must be readily accessible and useable by people with disabilities. If an agency alters a facility built before that date, those altered portions must also be readily accessible and useable. That can include elevators, curb ramps, level boarding, ramps or lifts in buses and accessible ticketing equipment."

Jinny Kim, director of the disability rights program for San Francisco-based Legal Aid at Work, says her organization has been "suing public entities for a long time over accessibility. It’s a matter of agencies spending money and prioritizing it to make sure all people have access to their services." The funding provided by the bill, she says, would give transit agencies "no excuse."

"W. Robert Schultz, a campaign organizer at Chicago-based Active Transportation Alliance, said cities also need to consider "how people get to and from train and bus stations," which requires more focus on pedestrian infrastructure and sidewalk repair on top of the transit station work. A total focus on accessibility, he added, is necessary to make transportation equitable."