PUBLIC LAW 101-336-JULY 26, 1990 the individual with a disability and that the transportation of such additional individuals will not result in a denial of service to individuals with disabilities. For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), boarding or disembarking from a vehicle does not include travel to the boarding location or from the disembarking location. (2) SERVICE AREA.-The regulations issued under this section shall require the provision of paratransit and special transportation services required under this section in the service area of each public entity which operates a fixed route system, other than any portion of the service area in which the public entity solely provides commuter bus service. (3) SERVICE CRITERIA.-Subject to paragraphs (1) and (2), the regulations issued under this section shall establish minimum service criteria for determining the level of services to be required under this section. (4) UNDUE FINANCIAL BURDEN LIMITATION.-The regulations issued under this section shall provide that, if the public entity is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the provision of paratransit and other special transportation services otherwise required under this section would impose an undue financial burden on the public entity, the public entity, notwithstanding any other provision of this section (other than paragraph (5)), shall only be required to provide such services to the extent that providing such services would not impose such a burden. (5) ADDITIONAL SERVICES.-The regulations issued under this section shall establish circumstances under which the Secretary may require a public entity to provide, notwithstanding paragraph (4), paratransit and other special transportation services under this section beyond the level of paratransit and other special transportation services which would otherwise be required under paragraph (4). (6) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.-The regulations issued under this section shall require that each public entity which operates a fixed route system hold a public hearing, provide an opportunity for public comment, and consult with individuals with disabilities in preparing its plan under paragraph (7). (7) PLANS.-The regulations issued under this section shall require that each public entity which operates a fixed route system (A) within 18 months after the effective date of this subsection, submit to the Secretary, and commence implementation of, a plan for providing paratransit and other special transportation services which meets the requirements of this section; and (B) on an annual basis thereafter, submit to the Secretary, and commence implementation of, a plan for providing such services. (8) PROVISION OF SERVICES BY OTHERS.-The regulations issued under this section shall (A) require that a public entity submitting a plan to the Secretary under this section identify in the plan any person or other public entity which is providing a paratransit or other special transportation service for individuals with disabilities in the service area to which the plan applies; and 104 STAT. 341 104 STAT. 342 42 USC 12144. PUBLIC LAW 101-336-JULY 26, 1990 (B) provide that the public entity submitting the plan does not have to provide under the plan such service for individuals with disabilities. (9) OTHER PROVISIONS.-The regulations issued under this section shall include such other provisions and requirements as the Secretary determines are necessary to carry out the objectives of this section. (d) REVIEW OF PLAN. (1) GENERAL RULE.-The Secretary shall review a plan submitted under this section for the purpose of determining whether or not such plan meets the requirements of this section, including the regulations issued under this section. (2) DISAPPROVAL.-If the Secretary determines that a plan reviewed under this subsection fails to meet the requirements of this section, the Secretary shall disapprove the plan and notify the public entity which submitted the plan of such disapproval and the reasons therefor. (3) MODIFICATION OF DISAPPROVED PLAN.-Not later than 90 days after the date of disapproval of a plan under this subsection, the public entity which submitted the plan shall modify the plan to meet the requirements of this section and shall submit to the Secretary, and commence implementation of, such modified plan. (e) DISCRIMINATION DEFINED.-As used in subsection (a), the term "discrimination" includes (1) a failure of a public entity to which the regulations issued under this section apply to submit, or commence implementation of, a plan in accordance with subsections (c)(6) and (c)(7); (2) a failure of such entity to submit, or commence implementation of, a modified plan in accordance with subsection (d)(3); (3) submission to the Secretary of a modified plan under subsection (dX3) which does not meet the requirements of this section; or (4) a failure of such entity to provide paratransit or other special transportation services in accordance with the plan or modified plan the public entity submitted to the Secretary under this section. (f) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.-Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a public entity (1) from providing paratransit or other special transportation services at a level which is greater than the level of such services which are required by this section, (2) from providing paratransit or other special transportation services in addition to those paratransit and special transportation services required by this section, or (3) from providing such services to individuals in addition to those individuals to whom such services are required to be provided by this section. SEC. 224. PUBLIC ENTITY OPERATING A DEMAND RESPONSIVE SYSTEM. If a public entity operates a demand responsive system, it shall be considered discrimination, for purposes of section 202 of this Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), for such entity to purchase or lease a new vehicle for use on such system, for which a solicitation is made after the 30th day following the effective date of this section, that is not readily accessible to and usable PUBLIC LAW 101-336-JULY 26, 1990 by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, unless such system, when viewed in its entirety, provides a level of service to such individuals equivalent to the level of service such system provides to individuals without disabilities. SEC. 225. TEMPORARY RELIEF WHERE LIFTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. (a) GRANTING.-With respect to the purchase of new buses, à public entity may apply for, and the Secretary may temporarily relieve such public entity from the obligation under section 222(a) or 224 to purchase new buses that are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities if such public entity demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary (1) that the initial solicitation for new buses made by the public entity specified that all new buses were to be liftequipped and were to be otherwise accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; (2) the unavailability from any qualified manufacturer of hydraulic, electromechanical, or other lifts for such new buses; (3) that the public entity seeking temporary relief has made good faith efforts to locate a qualified manufacturer to supply the lifts to the manufacturer of such buses in sufficient time to comply with such solicitation; and (4) that any further delay in purchasing new buses necessary to obtain such lifts would significantly impair transportation services in the community served by the public entity. (b) DURATION AND NOTICE TO CONGRESS.-Any relief granted under subsection (a) shall be limited in duration by a specified date, and the appropriate committees of Congress shall be notified of any such relief granted. (c) FRAUDULENT APPLICATION.-If, at any time, the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe that any relief granted under subsection (a) was fraudulently applied for, the Secretary shall (1) cancel such relief if such relief is still in effect; and (2) take such other action as the Secretary considers appropriate. SEC. 226. NEW FACILITIES. For purposes of section 202 of this Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), it shall be considered discrimination for a public entity to construct a new facility to be used in the provision of designated public transportation services unless such facility is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs. SEC. 227. ALTERATIONS OF EXISTING FACILITIES. (a) GENERAL RULE.-With respect to alterations of an existing facility or part thereof used in the provision of designated public transportation services that affect or could affect the usability of the facility or part thereof, it shall be considered discrimination, for purposes of section 202 of this Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), for a public entity to fail to make such alterations (or to ensure that the alterations are made) in such a manner that, to the maximum extent feasible, the altered portions of the facility are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, upon the completion of such alterations. Where the public entity is undertaking an alteration that affects or could affect usability of or 104 STAT. 343 42 USC 12145. 42 USC 12146. 42 USC 12147. 104 STAT. 344 42 USC 12148. PUBLIC LAW 101-336-JULY 26, 1990 access to an area of the facility containing a primary function, the entity shall also make the alterations in such a manner that, to the maximum extent feasible, the path of travel to the altered area and the bathrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered area, are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, upon completion of such alterations, where such alterations to the path of travel or the bathrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered area are not disproportionate to the overall alterations in terms of cost and scope (as determined under criteria established by the Attorney General). (b) SPECIAL RULE FOR STATIONS. (1) GENERAL RULE.-For purposes of section 202 of this Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), it shall be considered discrimination for a public entity that provides designated public transportation to fail, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, to make key stations (as determined under criteria established by the Secretary by regulation) in rapid rail and light rail systems readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs. (2) RAPID RAIL AND LIGHT RAIL KEY STATIONS.— (A) ACCESSIBILITY.-Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, all key stations (as determined under criteria established by the Secretary by regulation) in rapid rail and light rail systems shall be made readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as soon as practicable but in no event later than the last day of the 3-year period beginning on the effective date of this paragraph. (B) EXTENSION FOR EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE STRUCTURAL CHANGES.-The Secretary may extend the 3-year period under subparagraph (A) up to a 30-year period for key stations in a rapid rail or light rail system which stations need extraordinarily expensive structural changes to, or replacement of, existing facilities; except that by the last day of the 20th year following the date of the enactment of this Act at least 3 of such key stations must be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. (3) PLANS AND MILESTONES.-The Secretary shall require the appropriate public entity to develop and submit to the Secretary a plan for compliance with this subsection (A) that reflects consultation with individuals with disabilities affected by such plan and the results of a public hearing and public comments on such plan, and (B) that establishes milestones for achievement of the requirements of this subsection. SEC. 228. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES IN (a) PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES IN EXISTING FACILITIES. (1) IN GENERAL.-With respect to existing facilities used in the provision of designated public transportation services, it shall be considered discrimination, for purposes of section 202 of this Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. PUBLIC LAW 101-336-JULY 26, 1990 794), for a public entity to fail to operate a designated public transportation program or activity conducted in such facilities so that, when viewed in the entirety, the program or activity is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. (2) EXCEPTION.-Paragraph (1) shall not require a public entity to make structural changes to existing facilities in order to make such facilities accessible to individuals who use wheelchairs, unless and to the extent required by section 227(a) (relating to alterations) or section 227(b) (relating to key stations). (3) UTILIZATION.-Paragraph (1) shall not require a public entity to which paragraph (2) applies, to provide to individuals who use wheelchairs services made available to the general public at such facilities when such individuals could not utilize or benefit from such services provided at such facilities. (b) ONE CAR PER TRAIN RULE. 104 STAT. 345 (1) GENERAL RULE.-Subject to paragraph (2), with respect to 2 or more vehicles operated as a train by a light or rapid rail system, for purposes of section 202 of this Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), it shall be considered discrimination for a public entity to fail to have at least 1 vehicle per train that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as soon as practicable but in no event later than the last day of the 5-year period beginning on the effective date of this section. (2) HISTORIC TRAINS.-In order to comply with paragraph (1) with respect to the remanufacture of a vehicle of historic character which is to be used on a segment of a light or rapid rail system which is included on the National Register of Historic Places, if making such vehicle readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities would significantly alter the historic character of such vehicle, the public entity which operates such system only has to make (or to purchase or lease a remanufactured vehicle with) those modifications which are necessary to meet the requirements of section 222(c)(1) and which do not significantly alter the historic character of such vehicle. SEC. 229. REGULATIONS. (a) IN GENERAL.-Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations, in an accessible format, necessary for carrying out this part (other than section 223). (b) STANDARDS.-The regulations issued under this section and section 223 shall include standards applicable to facilities and vehicles covered by this subtitle. The standards shall be consistent with the minimum guidelines and requirements issued by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board in accordance with section 504 of this Act. SEC. 230. INTERIM ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. If final regulations have not been issued pursuant to section 229, for new construction or alterations for which a valid and appropriate State or local building permit is obtained prior to the issuance of final regulations under such section, and for which the construction or alteration authorized by such permit begins within one year of the receipt of such permit and is completed under the terms of 42 USC 12149. 42 USC 12150. |