ACB urges the House to pass the Disability Access to Transportation Act

People with disabilities have long faced access problems when utilizing paratransit services. For instance, paratransit users must wait significant periods of time between trips, making it difficult to carry out regular appointments and errands in one day. Additionally, most states do not provide on-demand ride requests for paratransit users. As a result, they often have to schedule rides multiple days in advance, limiting their options to carry out responsibilities and participate in their communities freely. The Disability Access to Transportation Act (DATA) calls for the development of a pilot program to combat these issues. The pilot program will allow paratransit passengers an additional, quick stop on their way to their final destination. For instance, if a person is taking paratransit home from work, they can make a quick stop at the pharmacy to pick up their medication. The bill has bipartisan support. In addition to this important service, the bill also includes language to prioritize projects that utilize real-time tracking and on-demand scheduling technology. Currently, many paratransit providers use outdated and legacy technologies that hinder the advancements in paratransit services. The pilot program will also streamline the accessibility complaint reporting process with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and collect data to identify gaps in paratransit services.

Dear [Lawmaker],

I urge you to co-sponsor and support the passage of the Disability Access to Transportation Act to improve paratransit services across the nation. Paratransit services, as mandated under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), have lagged behind in effective transportation services. This bill, with bipartisan support, will develop a pilot program that will provide passengers with an additional stop when utilizing paratransit. In other words, if a person is traveling home from work via paratransit, that person can quickly stop at a day-care facility to pick up his or her child. Current regulations do not permit this, and rides cannot be scheduled on top of each other. This current practice makes travel by paratransit slow and time-consuming.

The bill will also work to modernize paratransit services. It calls for the use of real-time tracking and on-demand technology. Many paratransit providers continue to use legacy technology that make services inefficient. The bill also calls for the collection of data to better explore how to improve paratransit services.

Please support H.R. 4116 to improve transportation services for persons with disabilities.

Sincerely,
______

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