Inclusive Design of Autonomous Vehicles: A Public Dialogue Goal 4: Support the development and diversification of the public transit systems

A persistent problem for persons with disabilities is navigating the transportation options available to meet specific individual needs or, where none exists, to help create meaningful and efficient options. The same issue exists for human service programs, employers and a variety of other organizations needing mobility strategies and services to meet their mobility needs and those of their customers or members. Those... more »

Technologies have become available to provide navigation information and on-demand access to visual information for people who are blind. These technologies are not yet widely deployed in transit settings, though they have the potential to greatly enhance access to transit facilities. DOT should support research to develop and validate effective and easy-to-use technologies to provide support for navigation/wayfinding... more »

Try spending more money on fewer projects that might need time to work. Funding anything and everything is rushing this process and able bodied become frustrated and lose interest. Try over funding one or two projects and exhaust their viability or change their model to work by learning for the current mistakes. Money is always the answer in all of these meetings and posts SO LETS TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE ARE SPENDING THIS... more »

Existing law (49 U.S.C. 5310, FTA Circular 9070.1) requires the development of "Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plans" in order to be eligible for certain funding. Decades of studies (GAO, TRB/TCRP, etc) highlighted service duplication, inefficiencies, disorganization, poor service quality, gaps in service coverage, etc. These studies recommended, among other things, increased coordination which... more »

The blind community has begun to advocate for alternative options to traditional forms of paratransit. Since the adoption of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, many things have changed and paratransit has numerous limitations. Many members of the American Council of the Blind would prefer an on-demand system for paratransit services. This would enable travelers to call the day-of to request a ride. Such... more »

United Spinal salutes DOT's acknowledgment of what needs improved in public transit access in the above three major aspects of this goal, facilities, service and vehicles. Few can argue, these are the fundamentals of public transit. Yet, they are not static institutions. For mobility to grow, each of these must grow in step with advances in research, design and technology. In United Spinal's continual engagement with... more »

The mobility market has seen major roles played by transportation network companies (TNCs) and other providers of mobility at different levels. It is important to engage these providers as partners in provision of accessible services and options. While they may not have an explicit business objective to do so, their role in the overall mobility picture is evident and growing-- and they need to become part of the solution.... more »

Most people who are blind or have low vision depend on paratransit, human services transportation, or volunteer driver programs at some point. The Department should invest significant attention to making paratransit effective, convenient, and consistent and promote Section 5310 services. The DOT has a role to play in making paratransit services more effective for the riders who depend on them, including by encouraging... more »

When considering the future and development of the nation's public transit systems, access for all must be a priority, including for disabled and nondisabled travelers who are also Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; and those who are low income or who live in rural, tribal or other underserved areas. Measures must be taken to ensure access to service for unbanked individuals or those without a smartphone, and access... more »

New buses and transit vehicles should include lifts that hold greater weights, clearer audible announcements for blind and visually impaired passengers and visual announcements for the deaf and hard of hearing. In addition, new airflow and filtration systems that provide safety assurance for driver and passengers. USDOT should also make it clear that adequate heat in cold weather, and adequate cooling in hot weather are... more »

We need to look at ways to have community members be more involved in pooling the activities of transportation. We need a way to enter accessible vehicles with an inventory of community pooling fleets. With a program to financially benefit participants, we need to use technology to show routes available to people with disabilities based on routes taken by community members. We have a lot of vehicles around the marketplace... more »

in every state, the state workforce agency and the Vocational Rehabilitation agency have funding to provide to eligible clients who are travelling in the community to access their work. Most regional transit agencies have a disability pass that reduces the cost of the fare but why not collaborate directly with these two agencies focused on work (one just for individuals with disabilities) and provide a VR or Workforce... more »

PWD need to have access to Uber/Lyft-like on-demand transportation (using privately owned vehicles POVs) that can be paid with Medicaid-funded HCBS waiver dollars using their smart phone. Currently, PWD can use an Uber/Lyft if they private pay; and, HCBS waivers often will pay for such on-demand rides but only if the person pays and then seeks reimbursement using a third party intermediary. (This is all very dependent... more »

Two years ago, my husband used a rollator to board a Metrorail train with me. I quickly attempted to fold it and place it between seats when the train took off immediately and my husband was knocked off his feet. To my horror and that of the other passengers, he fell. Thanks to his muscular, well-padded frame, he was uninjured. We haven't used Metrorail since.

It's not obvious where rollators should be stored during... more »

I'm excited about the option of micro-transit to help bring public transit to harder-to-serve areas, like neighborhoods with large yards (which typically don't have the density to support fixed-route service). However, it's imperative that any micro-transit is physically accessible.