UNECE Working Party on Rail Transport Workshop on Passenger Accessibility of Heavy Rail Systems

Geneva19 November 2009

Policy and Legislative Context for Improved Accessibility

Mary Crass

Head of Policy and Forum Preparation

International Transport Forum

mary.crass@oecd.org

CONTENTSCONTENTS

◊ The International Transport Forum

◊ Improving Access Across Countries

◊ Implementing Accessibility: Why Is It So Hard?

◊ What Can Authorities and Operators Do?

THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT FORUMTHE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT FORUM

The multi-modal, inter-governmental Ministerial Forum for transport

Successor to the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT)

Part of the OECD family Two key elements: Annual Forum meeting

and Transport Research Centre Goal to increase profile of transport sector

and its challenges, and advance policy thinking

52 member countries worldwide

Improving Access Across Countries

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPERATIVESSOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPERATIVES

Growing numbers of people are unable to get around as they need to – therefore unable to participate fully in society;

Loss of independent mobility means cost for care provision and support.

POLICY CONTEXT ACROSS COUNTRIESPOLICY CONTEXT ACROSS COUNTRIES Growing awareness of importance of mobility for

disabled and older people;

National accessibility policies increasingly derived from disability rights legislation;

Also non-statutory guidelines and advice, consultation/ state financial assistance; government-funded research and development.

Increasing recognition that consultation with disability organisations at all levels of government is essential.

INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACCESSIBILITYACCESSIBILITY

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability

Promotes development and implementation of standards to improve accessibility:

Applies to public and private service providers;

Calls on States to facilitiate mobility and independent living of disabled people.

Disabled people shall have equal access to their physical surroundings, transport, information and communication

INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACCESSIBILITYACCESSIBILITY

European Union- 3 mechanisms to influence national policy:

EU directives and regulations adopted by government

Regulation (EC) No 371/2007 23 October 2007 on Rail Passengers’ Rights and Obligations

TSI on Accessibility to Railway Services (TSI PRM)

COST process

COST Action 335 on Accessibility to Heavy Rail Systems (2005)

Funding of international research on accessibility and mobility

MMOVE TOWARDS DISABILITY RIGHTS OVE TOWARDS DISABILITY RIGHTS LEGISLATIONLEGISLATION

USA (1990) : Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); UK (1995) Disability Discrimination Act (DDA); Germany (2002): Act on Equal Opportunities for

Disabled Persons ; Spain (2003) : National Law for Equal Opportunities,

Non Discrimination and Universal Accessibility; Switzerland (2004): Federal Act on the Elimination of

Discrimination against People with Disabilities; France (2005): Law on Equal Rights and Opportunities

, participation and citizenship of disabled persons.

MODAL-BASED APPROACHES MODAL-BASED APPROACHES

Sweden (1979): one of the first countries to introduce national legislation on adaptation of public transport for disabled travellers;

Japan (2000): Transport Accessibility Improvement Law;

Netherlands (2000): Act on Passenger Transport contracting of public transport services conditional on system accessibility;

Norway (2004): National Transport Plan’s Accessibility Programme (BRA) for 2006-2009: draws on government-wide Action Plan for increased access based on universal design.

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ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PROGRESS MADEACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PROGRESS MADE

Legislation introduced in many countries and at European level;

Good practice including:

Improved authority-operator collaboration for seamless transport;

Better links with organisations representing disabled/older people;

Growing awareness of need for barrier-free pedestrian environment.

Implementing Accessibility: Why is it

so hard?

ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PERSISTENT ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PERSISTENT

BARRIERSBARRIERS

Low government priority;

Inadequate regulatory & legal frameworks/technical standards;

Insufficient monitoring and evaluation of implementation;

Lack of familiarity with international good practice.

ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PERSISTENT ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PERSISTENT BARRIERS BARRIERS

Accessibility remains in many countries in the margins of transport policy;

Result: financial /other resources = committed too late;

High retrofitting/investment costs; indirect costs due to loss of mobility.

Without political commitment at national level, necessary improvements to accessibility cannot take place.

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BETTER PLANNING IS KEYBETTER PLANNING IS KEY

Early, long-term (10-year) planning for accessibility:

Allows costs to be spread out over investment period;

Engenders economic benefits for transport companies (increased patronage; reduced boarding times).

What Can Authorities and Operators Do?

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PRIORITY AREAS FOR FURTHER ACTIONPRIORITY AREAS FOR FURTHER ACTION

Recognise that accessibility is no longer an option for authorities and operators;

Develop a comprehensive national policy framework with supporting legislation and regulation where necessary;

Consistently monitor implementation of legislation and regulation; evaluate impacts;

Training for transport personnel, particularly drivers:

Especially to address sensory and cognitive disabilities/mental health problems.

Recent ITF Publications on AccessibilityRecent ITF Publications on Accessibility

Many reports, documents available from:

http://www.internationaltransportforum.org

Mary CRASSHead of Policy and Forum Preparation

International Transport Forum

mary.crass@oecd.org