Let us all celebrate the 32nd anniversary for the Americans With Disabilities Act. This was signed into law by former President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The Federal Transit Administration has done an excellent job during this period when it comes to improving public transit to be in compliance with ADA.
Billions of dollars in FTA grants to over 900 transit agencies across America have paid for tens of thousands of buses, paratransit vans, light rail, subway cars, commuter rail and ferries that are ADA accessible. Many of these transportation facilities now are outfitted with elevators and/or ramps that have also become ADA compliant.
The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration will announce notice of funding availability sometime soon. This is an opportunity for the NY MTA and other transit agencies around the nation to apply for a share of the $333 million under the new national competitive All Stations Accessibility Program.
Funds can be used to pay for station rehabilitation work, including elevators and ramps, along with visual or audible aids to assist riders in accessing the system. The deadline to apply will probably be Sept. 30. The program will total $1.75 billion over five years.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.
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