Equal access to transportation: A right for all Americans

Transportation is about a lot more than just getting around.  Our roadways, runways, and railways connect people with all of the things that make life worth living: family, education, job opportunities, and recreation.  That’s why we here at DOT--and the entire Obama Administration--are laser-focused on improving access to transportation for all Americans.

Last week, I joined the White House monthly disability call with the Special Assistant to President Obama on Disability Policy, Kareem Dale, to discuss with hundreds of stakeholders everything we’re doing at DOT to improve transportation access for people with disabilities.  In the twenty years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, there’s no doubt we’ve made significant strides forward.  But we won’t rest until everyone has equal access to all forms of transportation.

In the last year, DOT announced the first federal rule to specifically provide ADA protections to people with disabilities who travel on boats and ships.  And we’re finalizing a regulation to improve accessibility at rail stations so that people with disabilities can get on the same rail cars that everyone else uses.

We’re also committed to improving the flying experience for people with disabilities.  We’ve proposed new rules that would:

• Require airports to provide lifts for boarding and disembarking passengers;
• Make it easier for people to fly with service animals; and
• Improve access to airline websites, check-in kiosks, in-flight entertainment centers, audio-visual displays, medical oxygen, and airplane bathrooms.  

And as we prepare to mark the 25^th anniversary of the Air Carrier Access Act this year, we’re stepping up enforcement efforts to make sure airlines respect the rights of air travelers with disabilities.  In the last year, our Aviation Enforcement Office assessed civil penalties ranging from $125,000 to $2 million against a number of U.S. carriers. 

Access to transportation is one of the most fundamental of American rights.  I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, but remain committed to achieving even more so that all Americans have the same opportunities for living, learning, and earning.

Comments

[Rick Noel]

This sounds like the right direction for America. As somebody who has a disabled sister and mother-in-law, I have a first-hand appreciation of the need for equal access in transportation. Often times people with physical and mental disabilities can be treated like an invisible minority, whose needs often go ignored by mainstream society. Thanks for pushing this legislation.

Sincerely,

Rick Noel
Ballston Lake, NY

[Ashley Nedeau-Owen]

Love the attempts to improve access however little and however late. I still contend that a road without a bus is a Title VI violation in need of a lawyer. Too many roads lack public transit and are, by definition violating the ADA and the Civil Rights Act.
I'm in Wisconsin and our legislators on our Joint Finance Committee have been pushing hard to reduce the public transit we have struggled so hard for so long to get and keep.
Yesterday a bicyclist was struck and dragged by a woman driving a Dodge Durango. Apparently the driver of the Durango was not even aware she had struck a bicyclist. When we allow vehicles on roadways, and roadways designed and built intentionally without protections for all users of those roadways, that are designed so that the driver could hit and then drag a woman and her bicycle without the driver's knowledge, we have built a system that is unjust, cruel, and systemically inequitable.
Titling these paltry gains Equal Access is an affront!

[ford truck engine]

That is great news for the people who are disable, and want to live life like the normal people, it will be a great chance for them to travel and full fill all there dreams of traveling.

[Chris]

Any improvement to the flying experience for people with disabilities have to include an improvement to the way TSA treats people with disabilities. As long as people are harassed and molested for having colostomy bags and other such things nothing you do will make a bit of difference.

[Philomena Rogers]

Thank you for continuing to help people with disabilities. With a child in a wheelchair, I look forward to her being a productive member of society in a few years. She has a lot to offer.

[Canvas art]

It is really great effort put forward by you to provide benefits to disabled people, they also want to travel with transport facilities used by all of us, it is really appreciated work done by you.
get my congrats on this public cause.

[printed canvas gifts]

I'm astounded that this has not been put in place years ago. Having said that, congratulations on making this something to work toward.

[Boat Insurance]

I am glad that disabled people will continue to receive more and more access to transportation. Being disabled should not equal being unable to travel, be it by boat, train, or airplane! National parks should be made as accessible as possible as well.

[Perfumes]

Transportation for the disable has always been a difuclt challenge to overcome. For example I have been in places where it coudl take up to 5 buses to drive past before 1 is able to take a wheelchair. Improved access for the disabled is allows us all to see the world. I look forward to the next 12 months.

[Poster Prints]

It's great to see something like this coming to pass, and about time too. Looks like transportation are finally getting it right!