- Office of Attorney General Maura Healey
Media Contact for AG Healey Calls for Equal Access to Public Transportation on Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act
Chloe Gotsis
BOSTON — On the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Attorney General Maura Healey today joined a coalition of 18 state attorneys general in calling on Congress to pass legislation that will allow people with disabilities to have equal access to public transportation.
The All Stations Accessibility Program Act of 2021 (ASAP) will support state and local government efforts to provide accessible public transportation to people with disabilities. Specifically, the legislation would establish a federal grant program to support local transit and commuter rail authorities to upgrade existing stations to eliminate accessibility barriers. In a letter to congressional leadership, the coalition argues that the legislation is essential to addressing barriers to transportation, which also serve as barriers preventing people with disabilities from fully participating in society.
“More than three decades after the passage of the ADA, a third of people with disabilities still have little to no access to public transportation,” AG Healey said. “That’s unacceptable and why we are calling on Congress to pass this legislation and make public transportation accessible to everyone.”
The landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law July 26, 1990 and was designed to guarantee people with disabilities equal opportunities to be active participants in society. Considered by many to be the most sweeping civil rights legislation since passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the ADA resulted from tireless advocacy by disabled activists who demanded civil rights for people with disabilities. In passing the ADA, Congress acknowledged the historic isolation of people with disabilities, as well as the discrimination they experience in critical areas such as employment, housing, public accommodations, education, transportation, recreation, voting and more.
In their letter to congressional leadership, the attorneys general point out that notwithstanding the progress enshrined in the ADA, more work is needed to ensure people with disabilities can actively participate in their communities. Despite the ADA becoming law more than 30 years ago, studies show that people with disabilities continue to face challenges in obtaining employment and housing. A 2020 report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that only 17.9 percent of people with disabilities were employed, compared to 61.8 percent of people without disabilities. In their letter to Congress, the coalition argues that access to transportation is critical to addressing disparities in housing and employment and allowing people with disabilities to participate equally in society.
The ASAP Act will establish a grant program dedicated to assisting state and local governments in upgrading legacy rail stations, or those that were in operation before the ADA’s effective date. The program would appropriate $10 billion over 10 years, and each grant will fund 90 percent of a project’s net cost. Recipients can use grant funding to develop plans for projects aimed at accommodating individuals with a wide range of disabilities, including physical, sensory, and developmental disabilities. Each project plan must also ensure equitable service to all riders regardless of income, age, race or ability.
Joining AG Healey in sending today’s letter in are the attorneys general of Illinois, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington.
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