AGTA Statement on H.R. 2273 Consideration needs also to be given to the safety and comfort all passengers on longer intercity trips. In the event of an accident, wheelchairs may pose a hazard to other passengers and the disabled, as they attempt to exit the vehicle. Furthermore, the wheelchair is much less comfortable than a reclining coach seat for a long trip. Clearly, these issues need examination and the preferences of the disabled taken into account. A final hurdle not touched upon in the Bill is the matter of insurance for carriers when they do transport disabled passengers. Some insurance companies will not provide coverage or will do so only at extremely high premiums if disabled patrons are transported. Thus, enactment of this Bill would again mean the further loss of fixed route service. Clearly, this issue needs further study and amplification. The airport ground transportation industry is not insensitive to the needs of our nation's disabled. Most operators provide service where practical and insurance coverage permits. However, the economic burdens posed by this Bill are simply insurmountable. We ask the committee's help in reshaping Senate Bill 933/H.R. 2273 in order to not unduly penalize the fixed scheduled segment of this industry. Specifically, we would ask the following: ༣? 2) 3) That Section 304 of this Bill be stricken until such time that the three year study of private operator impacts recommended in the Bill is completed and their resultant recommendations made known to Congress. That other methods of wheelchair accessability; i.e. vehicle ramps, be studied as acceptable alternatives. That other countries and their airports be studied to determine how they meet the needs of the disabled, yet maintain the financial viability of their fixed route carriers. AGTA Statement on H.R. 2273 These suggestions are broadly stated, but their accomplishment would insure the temporary survival of fixed route service while we address the needs of the disabled in a forthright manner. Your consideration of these issues and leadership in preventing serious harm to our transportation industry is greatly appreciated. The airport ground transportation industry is anxious to assist in meeting the needs of the disabled and looks forward to moving ahead with constructive proposals that would not seriously injure this industry. Thank you for your interest. If I can provide any further assistance to you or to your staff, please do not hesitate to request it. Respectfully submitted, Ray Frundy Kay A Mundy, Ph.D JAM/S TESTIMONY of ALFRED B. LAGASSE III, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT KENSINGTON, MARYLAND 20895 and RUDOLPH H. BRUHNS, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER YELLOW CAB SERVICE CORPORATION 1406 HAYS STREET HOUSTON, TEXAS 77009 and ROBERT M. WERTH, PRESIDENT on behalf of the INTERNATIONAL TAXICAB ASSOCIATION to the COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION concerning the AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1989 H.R.2273 SEPTEMBER 26, 1989 Mr. Chairman, the International Taxicab Association (ITA) and its member companies thank you for the opportunity to appear here today. As the most experienced and dedicated providers of transportation to disabled persons, our members, demand-responsive, for-hire transportation providers, fully support the full and the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989 INDUSTRY OVERVIEW The International Taxicab Association represents the owners and managers of taxicab, limousine, livery, van and minibus fleets. Our 696 member companies operate approximately 40,000 for-hire, demand-responsive vehicles. In the United States, the private, for-hire vehicle fleet industry consists of over 6,300 companies, operating over 205,000 vehicles, providing over 355,000 jobs, transporting over 2 billion passengers and grossing approximately $6 billion annually. No sector of public transportation is more experienced, more dedicated, or provides more mobility for disabled persons than does the demand-responsive, for-hire vehicle industry. With non-modified standard equipment, the 170,800 taxicabs and 16,600 limousines and liveries in the United States have long met the local public transportation needs of people with disabilities. Our industry also operates 10,900 vans, approximately 40% of which are equipped with lifts to serve passengers who use wheelchairs. The remaining 6,700 vehicles operated by our industry include minibuses, school buses, motor A key indication of the for-hire vehicle industry's commitment and ability to transport people with disabilities is the degree to which public and private organizations contract with our industry for transportation service Nationally, over 65% of all private sector, demand-responsive transportation companies have contracts to provide transportation services for a wide array of groups, many of which include people with disabilities. Over 46% of all our industry's companies contract to transport company employees, such as airline or railroad crews; 45% contract to transport hospital patients and convalescents; 44% contract to transport senior citizens; 44% contract to transport school children; 44% contract to transport public aid recipients; 35% contract to transport other persons with disabilities; 14% contract to transport government employees; and 10% contract to provide community dial-a-ride service. Further evidence of the for-hire vehicle industry's commitment to serve persons with disabilities is found in ITA's support for expansion of the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of Transportation under §504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; our industry-wide educational sessions and published guidelines for assisting people with disabilities; our promotion of special service contracts with social service agencies and public transit authorities; our service on the Easter Seals steering committee that is examining transportation for persons with disabilities; and our development of model guidelines for taxicab driver training programs which include serving disabled passengers. |