Accessible Mass Transit

American Foundation for the Blind
M.C. Migel Library & Information Center
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 212.502.7661
TDD: 212.502.7662
Date: January, 1997
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                Accessible Mass Transit for People
                who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Why is Access to Mass Transit Important for People who are Blind
or Visually Impaired?

Public transportation is a major key to independence,
productivity, and community participation for people who are
blind or severely visually impaired; most of whom, because of
their visual impairment, are not able to drive a motor vehicle.
Mass transit services such as buses, trains, or special
paratransit vans are frequently the only options blind or
visually impaired people have for traveling independently to
school, work, health care facilities, shopping centers, and a
host of other places in the community.

 What do People who are Blind or Visually Impaired Need to
Access and Use Mass Transit?

People who are blind or visually impaired need to gather
information about their physical surroundings and about the
visible information that appears at transit stops, terminals, on
transit vehicles, schedules, maps, and directories to use mass
transit safely and effectively. Because of the visual nature of
most transit information, people who are blind, severely
visually impaired, or who have poor sight cannot readily use the
wealth of information provided in mass transit environments for
general information, wayfinding, and safety. For people who are
blind or visually impaired, this visible information can be a
barrier to using mass transit<a barrier that can be addressed by
providing information in ways that blind or visually impaired
people can use.

 What are Some Examples of Information in Transit Environments
that Present Barriers to People who are Blind or Visually
Impaired?

  * Route, timetable, fare, and customer service brochures
    available only in print formats
  * Print or graphic messages on signs, monitors, or maps
    displayed in transit terminals, on transit vehicles, and
    inside transit vehicles
  * Bus stop locations that are not clearly marked, and bus
    stops whose placement varies within a transit system (e.g.,
    some bus stops are placed just before the corner, some are
    mid-block, and others are just beyond the corner)
  * Ticket vending machines that have only visible or touch
    screen operation controls
  * Safety or hazard signs and warnings that are only visibly
    displayed

What is Being Done to Improve Transit Accessibility for People
who are Blind or Visually Impaired?

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law.
This broad civil rights act bans discrimination on the basis of
disability in employment, transportation, public services,
public accommodations, and telecommunications in the public and
private sectors. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the
U.S. Department of Justice have issued regulations implementing
the ADA's requirements for public and private transportation
vehicles, facilities, and services. The ADA transit regulations
are complex, addressing a wide range of areas including the
design of transportation vehicles and facilities, paratransit
services,training of transit staff, compliance requirements and
time frames, and a host of broadreaching issues.
It is important to note that transit agencies have unique
obligations under the ADA, as well as concurrent obligations
under state and local statutes and codes. Transit agencies are
advised to consult legal counsel for meeting federal, state, and
local requirements. The information contained in this fact sheet
is not intended to address in whole or in part the obligations
of transit agencies with regard to the ADA and other federal,
state, and local requirements. The Department of Transportation
regulations for publicly operated mass transit are found in the
Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR Parts 27, 37, 38).
In general terms, the ADA requires transportation systems to
remove barriers to mass transit for people who are blind or
visually impaired, primarily by making visible information
accessible and usable. The following list illustrates some of
the ways that transit systems have begun to do so.
  * Providing large print, high contrast, and non-glare
    informational signs in terminals, at bus stops, and on
    transit vehicles
  * Placing braille and tactile information regarding available
    service at consistent locations near the entrances to and
    within transit stations
  * Installing a tactile domed high contrast warning surface
    along platform edges
  * Making stop announcements inside transit vehicles at main
    points along a bus or train route
  * Providing external speakers that announce vehicle
    identification information
  * Providing ticket vending machines with braille and large
    print markings, or audible output devices
  * Training transit personnel to meet the specific needs of
    persons with visual impairments who use public transportation

What Does Innovation and Technology Hold in Store for Transit
Accessibility?

In the years since the passage of the ADA, rapidly evolving
technology has led to innovations that promise to enhance
transit accessibility for people who are blind or visually
impaired. Computer screen interfaces are being developed that
read aloud information displayed on video screen monitors;
information kiosks with tactile maps "talk" to those who seek
information about the location of key places in transit
stations; multimedia interactive software allows users to query
a map to plan routes; and global positioning satellite (GPS)
technology enables people to use a portable computer to monitor
their progress as they travel from place to place. This same GPS
technology can be used to drive automatic digitized stop
announcements and can be linked to external bus speakers that
will announce vehicle identification information to those
waiting at vehicle stops. And, infrared signals and radio
transmitters can be programmed to broadcast the visual messages
displayed on print signs, so signs can then be "heard" by people
who use special voice output receivers.

 Resources for Additional Information

American Foundation for the Blind Corporate and Access
Consulting Program, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY
10001. Telephone 212-502-7636. Web address: www.afb.org/afb.
This program conducts research and demonstration projects
related to transit and environmental accessibility and provides
consultation services in matters relating to access for people
who are blind or visually impaired. Transit research reports are
available by accessing the organization's web site.
Web Site: http://www.afb.org/afb

Project ACTION, 700 13th Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC
20005. Telephone 1-800-659-6428. Project ACTION, Accessible
Community Transportation in Our Nation, funded by the Federal
Transit Administration, is a national research and demonstration
program to improve access to transportation services for people
with disabilities and to help transit providers implement the
ADA. Call Project ACTION for its extensive publication and
report list.
Web Site: http://www.projectaction.org

U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board,
The Access Board, Suite 1000, 1331 F Street NW, Washington, DC
20004-1111. Telephone 1-800-872-2253, 202-272 5434. An
independent federal agency that develops and disseminates
technical information regarding accessibility for people with
disabilities, and is involved in disputes regarding the
accessibility of buildings or facilities that fall under its
jurisdiction.
Web Site: http://www.access-board.gov

Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS), National
Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
20418. Telephone 202-334-3250. A computerized on-line
information file that contains abstracts of completed research
studies and profiles of research in progress.
Web Site: http://www.nas.edu/trb/about/tris.html

TRACE Research and Development Center, S-151 Waisman Center,
1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705-2280. Telephone: Voice
608-263-2309, TTY 608-263-5408.
Web Site: http://www.trace.wisc.edu

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