1. UNECE Working Party on Rail Transport Workshop on Passenger Accessibility of Heavy Rail Systems Geneva 19 November 2009 Policy and Legislative Context for Improved Accessibility Mary Crass Head of Policy and Forum Preparation International Transport Forum mary.crass@oecd.org

2. CONTENTS ◊The International Transport Forum ◊Improving Access Across Countries ◊Implementing Accessibility: Why Is It So Hard? ◊What Can Authorities and Operators Do?

3. THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT FORUM The multi-modal, inter-governmental Ministerial Forum for transport Successor to the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) Part of the OECD family Two key elements: Annual Forum meeting and Transport Research Centre Goal to increase profile of transport sector and its challenges, and advance policy thinking

4. 52 member countries worldwide

5. Improving Access Across Countries

6. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPERATIVES  Growing numbers of people are unable to get around as they need to – therefore unable to participate fully in society;  Loss of independent mobility means cost for care provision and support.

7. POLICY CONTEXT ACROSS COUNTRIES  Growing awareness of importance of mobility for disabled and older people;  National accessibility policies increasingly derived from disability rights legislation;  Also non-statutory guidelines and advice, consultation/ state financial assistance; government-funded research and development.  Increasing recognition that consultation with disability organisations at all levels of government is essential.

8. INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACCESSIBILITY  The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability  Promotes development and implementation of standards to improve accessibility:  Applies to public and private service providers;  Calls on States to facilitiate mobility and independent living of disabled people.  Disabled people shall have equal access to their physical surroundings, transport, information and communication

9. INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACCESSIBILITY  European Union- 3 mechanisms to influence national policy:  EU directives and regulations adopted by government  Regulation (EC) No 371/2007 23 October 2007 on Rail Passengers’ Rights and Obligations  TSI on Accessibility to Railway Services (TSI PRM)  COST process  COST Action 335 on Accessibility to Heavy Rail Systems (2005)  Funding of international research on accessibility and mobility

10. MOVE TOWARDS DISABILITY RIGHTS LEGISLATION  USA (1990) : Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);  UK (1995) Disability Discrimination Act (DDA);  Germany (2002): Act on Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons ;  Spain (2003) : National Law for Equal Opportunities, Non Discrimination and Universal Accessibility;  Switzerland (2004): Federal Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against People with Disabilities;  France (2005): Law on Equal Rights and Opportunities, participation and citizenship of disabled persons.

11. MODAL-BASED APPROACHES  Sweden (1979): one of the first countries to introduce national legislation on adaptation of public transport for disabled travellers;  Japan (2000): Transport Accessibility Improvement Law;  Netherlands (2000): Act on Passenger Transport contracting of public transport services conditional on system accessibility;  Norway (2004): National Transport Plan’s Accessibility Programme (BRA) for 2006-2009: draws on government-wide Action Plan for increased access based on universal design.

12. 12 ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PROGRESS MADE  Legislation introduced in many countries and at European level;  Good practice including:  Improved authority-operator collaboration for seamless transport;  Better links with organisations representing disabled/older people;  Growing awareness of need for barrier-free pedestrian environment.

13. Implementing Accessibility: Why is it so hard?

14. ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PERSISTENT BARRIERS  Low government priority;  Inadequate regulatory & legal frameworks/technical standards;  Insufficient monitoring and evaluation of implementation;  Lack of familiarity with international good practice.

15. ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PERSISTENT BARRIERS ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY: PERSISTENT BARRIERS  Accessibility remains in many countries in the margins of transport policy;  Result: financial /other resources = committed too late;  High retrofitting/investment costs; indirect costs due to loss of mobility.  Without political commitment at national level, necessary improvements to accessibility cannot take place.

16. 16 BETTER PLANNING IS KEY  Early, long-term (10-year) planning for accessibility: Allows costs to be spread out over investment period; Engenders economic benefits for transport companies (increased patronage; reduced boarding times).

17. What Can Authorities and Operators Do?

18. 18 PRIORITY AREAS FOR FURTHER ACTION  Recognise that accessibility is no longer an option for authorities and operators;  Develop a comprehensive national policy framework with supporting legislation and regulation where necessary;  Consistently monitor implementation of legislation and regulation; evaluate impacts;  Training for transport personnel, particularly drivers:  Especially to address sensory and cognitive disabilities/mental health problems.

19. Recent ITF Publications on Accessibility

20. Many reports, documents available from: http://www.internationaltransportforum.org Mary CRASS Head of Policy and Forum Preparation International Transport Forum mary.crass@oecd.org