Summary of the Summary of the TPB and AFATPB and AFA
Disability Awareness DayDisability Awareness DayOctober 20, 2004October 20, 2004
Access for All Advisory CommitteeAccess for All Advisory CommitteeJanuary 27, 2005January 27, 2005
22
BackgroundBackgroundThe “Rule of Two” -- Compared to the general The “Rule of Two” -- Compared to the general population, persons with disabilities are twice population, persons with disabilities are twice as likely to:as likely to:– Be unemployedBe unemployed– Live in poverty, andLive in poverty, and– Have inadequate transportationHave inadequate transportation
National Disability Employment Awareness National Disability Employment Awareness Month Month Goal: Goal: – Educate elected officials, transportation agency Educate elected officials, transportation agency
officials and the general public;officials and the general public;– Break down attitudinal barriers;Break down attitudinal barriers;– Highlight how the region can work together to Highlight how the region can work together to
break down travel barriers.break down travel barriers.
Event Co-sponsors:Event Co-sponsors:
American Public Human Services AssociationAmerican Public Human Services Association
33
Disability Awareness DayDisability Awareness Day11 Travel Teams 11 Travel Teams included:included:– a TPB member, a a TPB member, a
volunteer with a volunteer with a disability, and a disability, and a member of the pressmember of the press
– traveled together on traveled together on bus, rail, or paratransit bus, rail, or paratransit to a morning press to a morning press conferenceconference
TPB Chairman Christopher Zimmerman moderates the “Access for All” Press Conference
44
An Eye-Opening ExperienceAn Eye-Opening Experience
““Today with Connie and her Today with Connie and her manually operated wheelchair, I manually operated wheelchair, I realized there is a significant slope realized there is a significant slope to the sidewalk…Something that to the sidewalk…Something that had never mattered to me was a had never mattered to me was a significant safety feature for us significant safety feature for us today.” today.”
-Carol Petzold Maryland House -Carol Petzold Maryland House DelegateDelegate
AFA Chairwoman Kathy Porter makes closing remarks
““It made a big impression on me….I probably haven’t It made a big impression on me….I probably haven’t given as much thought to this issue as I should have.” given as much thought to this issue as I should have.”
-Richard White-Richard White General Manager of MetroGeneral Manager of Metro
55
Reliable Transportation for Reliable Reliable Transportation for Reliable EmployeesEmployees
John Hudson, Fairfax County Director of Disability Services, shares details of his commute to COG from Fairfax
“Reliable and dependable employees need reliable and dependable transportation”
-John Hudson
Program Manager for Disability Services in Fairfax
County
66
Benefits for All Benefits for All
Accessibly features Accessibly features benefit many people-- benefit many people-- including children, older including children, older adults, parents pushing adults, parents pushing strollers, people with strollers, people with rolling luggage, and rolling luggage, and bicyclistsbicyclists
“We are not doing this for us, but for you. As you age, you might need a wheelchair. Your vision could get worse.”
-Dr. Raymond “Bud” Keith Retired Federal Employee and Disability Advocate
77
Washington Post Quote of the DayWashington Post Quote of the Day““You can talk to people until you’re blue in the face about You can talk to people until you’re blue in the face about what you can do for people with disabilities…But until what you can do for people with disabilities…But until you’re in a chair, you can’t understand”you’re in a chair, you can’t understand”
-Michael LaJuene-Michael LaJueneMetro Rider with a DisabilityMetro Rider with a Disability
88
Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedBus AccessibilityBus Accessibility– Not all of the region’s bus fleets are 100% wheelchair Not all of the region’s bus fleets are 100% wheelchair
accessibleaccessible– Bus stops need to be consistently announcedBus stops need to be consistently announced
Rail AccessibilityRail Accessibility– More rail stations need “bumpy strips”More rail stations need “bumpy strips”– Elevators need to work routinelyElevators need to work routinely– Shuttle bus servicesShuttle bus services
Sidewalk AccessibilitySidewalk Accessibility– Curb rampsCurb ramps– Obstructions to medians and sidewalksObstructions to medians and sidewalks– Placement of crosswalk buttonsPlacement of crosswalk buttons– Audible Pedestrian SignalsAudible Pedestrian Signals– Slope of sidewalkSlope of sidewalk
99
Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedParatransit ServicesParatransit Services– Paratransit services are critical for people Paratransit services are critical for people
with disabilities that are unable to use the with disabilities that are unable to use the fixed route servicefixed route service
– Inefficient service can result in confusion Inefficient service can result in confusion and delaysand delays
– Concerns over the Metro budget shortfall Concerns over the Metro budget shortfall and characterization of MetroAccess costs and characterization of MetroAccess costs in the pressin the press
1010
Next Steps: Bus, Rail and Sidewalk Next Steps: Bus, Rail and Sidewalk AccessibilityAccessibility
Advocate for Improved Accessibility Advocate for Improved Accessibility – Follow-up letter to TPB members with lessons Follow-up letter to TPB members with lessons
learnedlearned– Other follow-up??Other follow-up??
1111
Next Steps: MetroAccess StudyNext Steps: MetroAccess StudyConduct a Study of MetroAccessConduct a Study of MetroAccess– ““a study of Metro’s paratransit service should now be a study of Metro’s paratransit service should now be
conducted to identify ways to serve the greatest conducted to identify ways to serve the greatest number of people with the current budget. The study number of people with the current budget. The study should examine if there are there more cost-effective should examine if there are there more cost-effective ways to better serve more people with disabilities who ways to better serve more people with disabilities who cannot use the fixed route system.”cannot use the fixed route system.”
– AFA Recommendation transmitted to the WMATA Board from AFA Recommendation transmitted to the WMATA Board from the TPB in January 2004the TPB in January 2004
– Related to concerns about the “Blue Ribbon Panel” on Related to concerns about the “Blue Ribbon Panel” on a dedicated funding source for Metroa dedicated funding source for Metro
