Pena points to DOT progress toward accessible transportation.

Marking the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), U.S. Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena said the department has made substantial progress toward a national transportation system that is accessible to travelers with disabilities.

In the first meeting any Transportation Secretary has ever initiated with major leaders of the disability community, Secretary Pena said, "We know transportation is the key that allows people with disabilities to enter the mainstream. The department has been working vigorously to carry out the requirements of the ADA, and we can point to many accomplishments.

"However," he added, "the task is far from complete. There are some regulations not yet in effect, and other rules that need to be put in place to remove barriers."

The department also is including people with disabilities in its extensive efforts to develop the recently announced National Transportation System, which embraces all forms of transportation-highways, waterways, transit systems, pipelines, airports, seaports, and rail lines, both passenger and freight.

Here is a status report on transportation accessibility

Mass Transit: Every federally aided mass transit system provides some type of accessible service for passengers with disabilities. Accessibility improvements such as bus lifts and vehicle ramps are appearing rapidly, as well as door-to-door paratransit (alternate services) vans for people who cannot use the fixed routes. Transit rail systems are upgrading their key stations--transfer points or those that are heavily used--and buying new rail cars with accessibility devices. The department provides information and technical assistance to the transit industry on making vehicles and stations accessible and has established the National Transit Institute at Rutgers University to educate transit operators on all key aspects of ADA.

Railroads: Regulations for Amtrak as well as transit systems call for one car per train to be accessible by 1995. Existing Amtrak stations must be modified by the year 2010. Amtrak operates a customer service desk that assisted more than 150,000 senior citizens and passengers with disabilities in 1993.

Aviation: It is now much easier for most travelers with disabilities to use the air transportation system. Required accessibility features (at airports and carrier terminals that receive federal aid) include parking, baggage services, informative signs, water fountains, bathrooms, ticket counters, and information/telecommunication devices. In addition, airline policies may not impose unnecessary burdens on air travelers with disabilities, such as requiring a companion to serve as a personal attendant.

U.S. airlines are required to install special features on new and refurbished aircraft. The department estimates that by the end of 1993, 10-20 percent of the fleet, or 400-800 aircraft (with more than 29 seats) had movable armrests on half of the aisle seats. Nearly all new and existing aircraft have onboard wheelchairs for cabin use. About 200 planes (with more than 99 seats) provide cabin stow space for at least one folding wheelchair, and roughly 10 percent of twin aisle aircraft have fully accessible lavatories. A rule requiring accessible boarding equipment for commuter aircraft (19-30 seats) will be issued in the near future.

Highways and Streets: Nearly all rest areas on Interstate highways and other new roads funded with federal aid are now accessible. Streets and highway pedestrian facilities being constructed, renovated and altered with federal aid are being brought into conformance with regulations that require installation of curb cuts to accommodate wheelchairs.

Intercity Buses: The department is currently developing proposals to establish accessibility requirements for intercity, charter and other over-the-road bus services. The rule would take effect by the ADA deadlines of 1996 and 1997.

Maritime: DOT is conducting research to help develop accessibility standards for maritime vessels and facilities, ranging from ferry boats to cruise ships.

According to DOT, people with disabilities played a major role in drafting and commenting on DOT'S transit and air accessibility regulations and the department continues to seek their guidance on new ADA rules. Meeting with the Secretary were representatives of the National Council on Independent Living, American Council of the Blind, American Federation of the Blind, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Eastern Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Association of the Deaf, National Association of Protection and Advocacy, Center for Independent Living (Berkeley, California), Disability Rights Education Defense Fund, and Endependence Center of Northern Virginia.

The department also provides $2 million in annual funding to Project ACTION, operated by the National Easter Seal Society, which brings together all key decision makers in implementing ADA.