Summary of the TPB and AFA Disability Awareness Day October 20, 2004 Access for All Advisory Committee January 27, 2005

2Background The “Rule of Two” -- Compared to the general population, persons with disabilities are twice as likely to: –Be unemployed –Live in poverty, and –Have inadequate transportation National Disability Employment Awareness Month Goal: –Educate elected officials, transportation agency officials and the general public; –Break down attitudinal barriers; –Highlight how the region can work together to break down travel barriers. Event Co-sponsors: American Public Human Services Association

3 Disability Awareness Day 11 Travel Teams included: –a TPB member, a volunteer with a disability, and a member of the press – traveled together on bus, rail, or paratransit to a morning press conference TPB Chairman Christopher Zimmerman moderates the “Access for All” Press Conference

4 An Eye-Opening Experience “Today with Connie and her manually operated wheelchair, I realized there is a significant slope to the sidewalk…Something that had never mattered to me was a significant safety feature for us today.” -Carol Petzold Maryland House Delegate AFA Chairwoman Kathy Porter makes closing remarks “It made a big impression on me….I probably haven’t given as much thought to this issue as I should have.” -Richard White General Manager of Metro General Manager of Metro

5 Reliable Transportation for Reliable Employees John Hudson, Fairfax County Director of Disability Services, shares details of his commute to COG from Fairfax “Reliable and dependable employees need reliable and dependable transportation” -John Hudson Program Manager for Disability Services in Fairfax County

6 Benefits for All Accessibly features benefit many people-- including children, older adults, parents pushing strollers, people with rolling luggage, and bicyclists “We are not doing this for us, but for you. As you age, you might need a wheelchair. Your vision could get worse.” -Dr. Raymond “Bud” Keith Retired Federal Employee and Disability Advocate

7 Washington Post Quote of the Day “You can talk to people until you’re blue in the face about what you can do for people with disabilities…But until you’re in a chair, you can’t understand” -Michael LaJuene Metro Rider with a Disability

8 Lessons Learned Bus Accessibility –Not all of the region’s bus fleets are 100% wheelchair accessible –Bus stops need to be consistently announced Rail Accessibility –More rail stations need “bumpy strips” –Elevators need to work routinely –Shuttle bus services Sidewalk Accessibility –Curb ramps –Obstructions to medians and sidewalks –Placement of crosswalk buttons –Audible Pedestrian Signals –Slope of sidewalk

9 Lessons Learned Paratransit Services –Paratransit services are critical for people with disabilities that are unable to use the fixed route service –Inefficient service can result in confusion and delays –Concerns over the Metro budget shortfall and characterization of MetroAccess costs in the press

10 Next Steps: Bus, Rail and Sidewalk Accessibility Advocate for Improved Accessibility –Follow-up letter to TPB members with lessons learned –Other follow-up??

11 Next Steps: MetroAccess Study Conduct a Study of MetroAccess –“a study of Metro’s paratransit service should now be conducted to identify ways to serve the greatest number of people with the current budget. The study should examine if there are there more cost-effective ways to better serve more people with disabilities who cannot use the fixed route system.” –AFA Recommendation transmitted to the WMATA Board from the TPB in January 2004 –Related to concerns about the “Blue Ribbon Panel” on a dedicated funding source for Metro