WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) and Congressman Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02) reintroduced their Disability Access to Transportation Act (DATA). This bipartisan legislation establishes a one-stop pilot program to help paratransit riders avoid excessive wait times between multiple trips, streamlines the process for submitting accessibility complaints, and assists local communities with identifying gaps in transportation accessibility.

“True community living is not possible without the ability to easily move from one location to another,” said Congresswoman Titus. “I’m proud to build upon the Americans with Disabilities Act so we can eliminate lingering barriers to adequate and accessible transportation.”

“This bill is about making paratransit work better for the people who rely on it,” said Congressman Van Drew. “Right now, the system is too rigid and does not reflect how people actually live their lives. These individuals already deal with enough challenges, and this bill is a commonsense fix that can really make their day a little easier. I am proud to join Congresswoman Titus to push for a smarter, more flexible system that actually works for the people it is meant to serve.”

The Disability Access to Transportation Act includes:

• Findings that highlight the ongoing need to improve access to and modernize transportation systems for those with disabilities;
• The creation of a new one-stop paratransit pilot program authorized at $75 million annually through FY29, which will allow for a brief stop on a multi-legged paratransit trip to prevent long wait times between having to book individual trip segments. This will allow people with disabilities to perform activities like stopping at a bank or pharmacy or dropping children off at daycare without needing to book two separate trips that could each take up to 90 minutes. The pilot program also prioritizes projects that use real-time tracking and on-demand scheduling technologies;
• Requires the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board to finalize minimum standards for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way, and requires the Secretary of Transportation to undertake a rulemaking to implement those standards;
• Streamlines the accessibility complaint reporting process at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA); and
• The creation of an accessibility data pilot program to improve data collection and identify gaps in services to aid in transportation planning.

The bill has been endorsed by the United Spinal Association; Access Ready Inc.; American Council of the Blind; Family Voices; Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund; Paralyzed Veterans of America; and Cure SMA.

“Paratransit is clunky, outmoded, and outdated. In an era of on-demand ride hailing, it’s clear that reforms are needed to take advantage of technological innovation,” said Steve Lieberman, Senior Director of Advocacy & Policy for United Spinal Association. “The Disability Access to Transportation Act would provide an opportunity for people with disabilities to be able to drop off their dry cleaning on their way to work, or pick up a prescription on the way home. We hope that all members of Congress support this sensible, bipartisan legislation.”

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