-2 For those who live in parts of the country served by public transportation, accessible transit can facilitate regular employment. The United States is facing a labor shortage and yet there are people with disabilities wanting to be employed. A 1986 Louis Harris Poll Report states that the lack of accessible or affordable transportation is a significant reason why they are not employed. The hour is now; there has to be accessible public transportation. Paratransit, as it operates in most communities today, is very restrictive and not equal to that of public transit. Paratransit systems operate on an advance reservation call-in system. That call may need to be into the schedules anywhere from 16 to 72 hours in advance of the trip. How long would the non-disabled rider put up with that silliness? These systems often vary widely in their hours of services, fares charged, geographical area served, eligibility requirements, and trip priorities. There are public mainline transportation systems in this country that do truly service all the public with one system. I have a letter from the Mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to Senator Kasten that will attest to the fact that accessible -3 mainline transportation works and is used. Mr. Chairman, I would like to share Mayor's Mather's letter. (READ LETTER). Paratransit does not allow one any spontaneity; you can't decide on a moment's notice that you want to go shopping or stay at the office late. There is no flexibility you awake at 6:30 a.m. not feeling well and decide you'll stay home in the morning, but there's an important meeting you have to attend in the afternoon, so you will go in at noon either you go in to work as prescheduled or you don't go at all. You have been at a meeting, the meeting ends early, you sit and wait until your ride comes. Paratransit simply allows - sorry, you no choices; rescheduling same day trips rarely can occur. In order to use most paratransit systems you have to meet their eligibility standards, meaning that you have medical documentation that states you need the service. Before I became disabled 26-1/2 years ago, I used the public transportation system in lots of cities. Never once was I asked for documentation that I needed the service. All that was required was that I got on the bus, paid the fare and followed the rules. Paratransit is not public transportation when a non-resident wishes to use it. Mr. Chairman, I face this problem when I -4 travel on business throughout the U.S. I will certainly face this situation when I return to Milwaukee, where I am still a property taxpayer. To use the Milwaukee system, one must request an application form from the User Side Subsidy (USS); upon completion of the application, the form is returned to USS with a $7.00 fee; USS then sends a request to your medical doctor to verify your disabling condition and the need for paratransit services. Assuming the doctor adequately responds to the USS request, you should then receive a letter of eligibility; finally, during regular business hours, you are required to go to the USS office (one must assume by means other than paratransit) to have a photo I.D. made, which you must have with you when you use the service. Then, of course you must follow the rules for scheduling a trip. Other visitors just simply get on a bus. No one asks them to document who they are or why they are riding. Requiring action to make mainline transportation accessible would eliminate this burden and discrimination. When Paratransit hours of service, area serviced and fare charges often do not mirror those of the public transportation. the hours of service and area served differ from the mainline system, this puts a person with a disability at a disadvantage. -5 They can only be employed based on the operating hours and area the paratransit operates. This system doesn't offer bus passes, off peak hour fares and may in fact charge more for a trip. Transit operators use the "high fare" as a way to keep trip demand in control, while they are marketing their mainline system. An accessible mainline system could relieve the paratransit system. And the dialogue could go on and on. You need to know that 15 years ago there wasn't any public transportation accessible to people with disabilities and the people with disabilities spoke out. Bus lifts were in their infancy, so paratransit came about. It's time, now to take the next step and make all new mainline buses accessible to the 43 million Americans with disabilities. Mayor Mather's letter certainly pointed out that it is possible to have such a system. The Americans with Disabilities Act would do that. Thank you. The Hon. Robert Kasten 20510 Dear Senator Kasten: I am writing in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act and to dispel the notion that problems with main line transportation for persons with disabilities militates against passage of the legislation. For nearly a decade we in Oshkosh have provided public transportatior. for persons with disabilities and others having mobility limitations. Our buses are equiped with wheelchair lifts and have "kneeling" capability to accommodate the needs our our traveling public. Our winters can be harsh and the snow deep and persistent yet we have encountered minimal difficulty in serving our customers. The Oshkosh Public Works Department is sensitive to the special concerns of persons with disabilities and do a yeoman's job in keeping curb cuts free of snow and in maintaining other areas to ensure that all individuals have access to public transportation. I urge you to support the Americans with Disabilities Act to allow all citizens equal opportunity of access to the quality of life offered by this great nation of ours. Thank you. Sincerely, Samera mather James A. Mather, Mayor CITY OF SHKO SA |