Americans with Disabilities Act Title II: Public Transportation

"The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications."

In this second part of the series, we will discuss the transportation section of the ADA under Title II, Sec. 222: Public Entities Operating a "Fixed Route System."

The transportation provisions of Title II cover public transportation services; for example, city houses and public rail such as subways, commuter rails, and Amtrak. Public transportation authorities may not discriminate against people with disabilities in providing their services. They must comply with requirements for accessibility in newly purchased vehicles, make good faith efforts to purchase or lease accessible used buses, and remanufactured buses in an accessible manner. Unless it would result in an undue burden, they must provide paratransit where they operate fixed route bus or rail systems. Paratransit is a service where individuals unable to use the regular transit system independently (because of a physical or mental impairment) are picked up and dropped off at their destinations.

You may forward your questions and/or complaints about public transportation to this address:

Office of Civil Rights

Federal Transit Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 9102

Washington, DC 20590

www.fta.dot.gov/office/civ.htm

(888) 446-4511 (voice/relay)

This information taken from "A Guide to Disability Rights Laws, May 2002, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section."