National Academies Press: OpenBook

Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities (2014)

Chapter: Chapter 3 - Getting Started: Understanding Current Use of Transit Services and Creating a System-wide Policy

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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 3 - Getting Started: Understanding Current Use of Transit Services and Creating a System-wide Policy." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2014. Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22397.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 3 - Getting Started: Understanding Current Use of Transit Services and Creating a System-wide Policy." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2014. Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22397.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 3 - Getting Started: Understanding Current Use of Transit Services and Creating a System-wide Policy." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2014. Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22397.
×
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Page 21
Suggested Citation:"Chapter 3 - Getting Started: Understanding Current Use of Transit Services and Creating a System-wide Policy." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2014. Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22397.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 3 - Getting Started: Understanding Current Use of Transit Services and Creating a System-wide Policy." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2014. Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22397.
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18 Two suggested “first steps” in adopting a strategy to enable and promote use of fixed-route transit services by people with disabilities are as follows: • Develop a good understanding of current use of transit services by people with disabilities and • Establish a system-wide policy on accessibility. 3.1 Developing an Understanding of Current Use of Transit Services Before developing a strategy to enable and promote increased use of fixed-route services, it is important to develop a good understanding of the current use of transit services by people with disabilities. Information should be gathered to answer the following questions: 1. What is the current ridership on fixed-route transit by people with disabilities? 2. What are the trends in fixed-route transit ridership by people with disabilities? 3. What is the current ridership on ADA paratransit? 4. What are the trends in ridership on ADA paratransit? 5. What are the factors that are considered by people with disabilities when using fixed-route transit versus ADA paratransit? 6. What are the barriers cited by people with disabilities to use of fixed-route transit services? Fixed-route transit and ADA paratransit ridership information ideally should be developed through ongoing data collection efforts. Information about factors and barriers that affect use of fixed-route transit services ideally should be developed through input from the community. Tracking Ridership ADA paratransit ridership is typically tracked by transit agencies as part of NTD reporting. Fixed-route transit ridership by people with disabilities is often not tracked, but it is strongly suggested. Track Reduced Fare Payments One approach for identifying riders with disabilities using fixed-route transit services is through the types of fares paid. The number of riders paying reduced fares can be used to esti- mate ridership by people with disabilities. Because reduced fares are typically made available to people other than those with disabilities (seniors, Medicare cardholders, students, etc.), it is C h a p t e r 3 Getting Started: Understanding Current Use of Transit Services and Creating a System-wide Policy Start by gathering fixed-route tran- sit and ADA paratransit ridership information and getting input from riders with disabilities to develop an understanding of public transit use and key rider issues in your area.

Getting Started: Understanding Current Use of transit Services and Creating a System-wide policy 19 important to develop approaches for tracking ridership by each group. If automated fare collec- tion systems are used, fare mechanisms can be programmed to include the characteristics of each rider. If automated systems are not used, some approach for estimating the reduced fare ridership by each group will be needed. One option is to track the percentage of people approved for reduced fares in each group and to apply the percentage of people who qualify based on disability to the total reduced fare ridership. This approach is illustrated by the following example: • Assume 10,000 people have been qualified for reduced fares. • 5,000 of these individuals were qualified based on a disability. • Total reduced fare ridership for a given month is 20,000 trips. • The estimated reduced fare ridership by people with disabilities is therefore 10,000 trips (50% of the total). To be able to track reduced fare ridership by group, it is helpful to do the following: • Record and track the basis on which each person is qualified for reduced fares. • Imbed information on type of rider in automatic fare collection mechanisms (if appropriate). • Record riders by fare type, either through full data collection during boarding or by sampling. Conduct On-board Rider Surveys An alternative to using reduced fare ridership data would be to conduct periodic on-board rider surveys. Include a question on disability in these surveys. Apply survey results to total fixed-route transit ridership data to estimate ridership by people with disabilities. Gathering information on ridership by people with disabilities on both fixed-route transit and ADA paratransit prior to the implementation of new strategies and programs can serve as an important baseline of information for evaluating the effectiveness of these efforts. Trends in ridership on each mode after implementation of programs and efforts can then be compared to baseline data to determine if people with disabilities are using fixed-route transit more and if the ratio of trips by fixed-route and by ADA paratransit has changed. Use Ridership Data to Set Goals Information about fixed-route ridership by people with disabilities can also be used to set performance goals within the agency and to evaluate the performance of staff. For example, consider setting goals not just on total fixed-route transit ridership, but on ridership by people with disabilities. Track this ridership each year and use it as part of the performance evaluation of services and managers. Community Input It is also important to work with the community and riders with disabilities to identify fac- tors that influence the use of each mode and barriers, both real and perceived, that may be keep- ing people from using fixed-route transit services. It is important to gather this input locally since types of barriers and issues will be different in each community. Input can be gathered through the following: • Local advisory committees, • Special public information meetings, • Focus groups of people with disabilities, • Periodic surveys of people with disabilities, and • Online input pages on the transit agency website. Consider setting goals not just on total fixed-route transit ridership, but on ridership by people with disabilities. Track this ridership each year and use it as part of the performance evaluation of services and managers.

20 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities If input is gathered through advisory committee meetings or other forums, make sure staff from all departments, fixed-route as well as ADA paratransit, attend and participate. Also be sure to report back to the community on efforts being made or planned to address issues and ideas presented. 3.2 Establishing a System-wide Accessibility Policy A second important “first step” is to develop a system-wide policy on accessibility and ser- vices for persons with disabilities. For strategies and programs to work, the support of all staff and all departments is needed. For example, marketing accessible fixed-route transit service and offering fare incentives is likely to be ineffective if equipment is not reliable and usable or if drivers are not offering appropriate assistance in a courteous manner. Similarly, travel training programs are likely to be less effective if people are not convinced that the fixed-route transit service is truly accessible and usable. The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA) in Corpus Christi, Texas, which is recognized for its efforts to provide accessible transit services, is one agency that has adopted a system-wide policy. A copy of the policy is provided on the following pages. The policy calls for all transit agency employees, within their regular duties and responsibilities, to establish a commitment to access for people with disabilities, people who are aging, and other people with access and functional needs. Key provisions of the policy are as follows: • Full participation by people with disabilities in programs and services. • Designation of an ADA Coordinator for the agency who reports directly to the chief execu- tive officer (CEO). • Creation of a Universal Access Team, with representatives from each department, which meets monthly to address accessibility issues. • Development by the Universal Access Team, working in conjunction with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Regional Committee on Accessible Transportation (RCAT) of guiding principles on accessibility. • Initial and ongoing training and professional development for all staff on the issues of inte- gration and elimination of barriers. • Use of an Impact Statement tool for new as well as ongoing programs and services that assesses whether the proposed or ongoing program creates barriers for people with disabili- ties, or adversely impacts access or integration. • Ongoing internal reviews of compliance with ADA requirements. CORPUS CHRISTI REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BOARD POLICY ACCESSIBILITY POLICY POLICY STATEMENT To provide full participation and equality of opportunity for people with disabili- ties, people who are aging and other people with access and functional needs, the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors calls for all RTA departments, within their regular duties and responsibilities, to establish a commitment to access.

Getting Started: Understanding Current Use of transit Services and Creating a System-wide policy 21 APPLICABILITY This policy statement is broad, cross-cutting and designed for application to all actions of the RTA, including but not limited to the following: • Policy Development • Customer Service • Service Provision and Operation (Directly Provided or Contracted) • Employment • Physical Environment • Communications/Media/Website • Public Involvement • External Meetings and Agency Sponsored Events • Fleet Characteristics • Maintenance • Safety/Security/Emergency Operations • Procurements • Staff Development and Training • Construction and Engineering • Route and Service Planning IMPLEMENTATION Effective implementation of the Accessibility Policy statement begins with the establishment of a Universal Access Team. Each RTA department will desig- nate sufficient and appropriate team members to serve and meet monthly to ensure compliance with the policy. This team will help develop guiding principles in conjunction with the RTA Regional Committee on Accessible Transportation (RCAT). Meetings of the Universal Access Team will be coordinated through the designated RTA ADA Coordinator and report current activities and initiatives to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Support for all RTA staff will include initial and ongoing training and profes- sional development regarding integration and elimination of barriers for people with disabilities, people who are aging and other people with access and func- tional needs. Additional tools available to all RTA staff will include the use of an Impact Statement (approved by the CEO) to ensure an effective outcome. The Impact Statement will provide for the review of programs, projects, and developing or ongoing RTA services that answer, at a minimum, the following questions: • Are any barriers being created for people with disabilities, people who are aging and other people with access and functional needs? • Is RTA enhancing access and integration for people with disabilities, people who are aging and other people with access and functional needs? • Does the program, project, or service result in the most integrated setting appropriate for people with disabilities, people who are aging and other peo- ple with access and functional needs? • Has RTA taken steps to reduce or eliminate any negative impacts?

22 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities POLICY REVIEW Review of this policy will be done no less than annually or more frequently as needed. To complement the review, RTA staff through the Universal Access Team will establish procedures and conduct the following: • Establish Review Baseline • Conduct Internal Review of Regulatory Compliance to include an ongoing ADA Performance Monitoring Program for all modes of transportation • Self-Evaluation Review and Update • ADA Transition Plan Review and Update • Establish Best Practices and Lessons Learned Components Adopted July 6, 2011

Next: Chapter 4 - Operating Accessible and Usable Fixed-Route Transit Services »
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TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 163: Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities is designed to help transit agencies fulfill the primary goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) by making mainstream fixed-route bus and rail systems accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. The focus of the Strategy Guide is to offer guidance on providing public services in the most integrated setting possible.

The project that developed the Strategy Guide also produced the following publications, which are available only in PDF format:

• a final research report that includes a summary of the literature, description of the research methodology, copies of the survey instruments used, and detailed tabulations of the survey responses; and

• information briefs that summarize key findings and findings of the research in the following five areas:

the overall strategy that is suggested,

current use of fixed-route transit by persons with disabilities,

bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement efforts,

fare incentive programs, and

ADA paratransit eligibility determination programs.

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