Access to public transportation has consistently been identified as a priority by NCIL members. While progress has been made, major barriers to achieving accessible public transportation remain. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) stated that, as of 2019, 20% of all public transit stations in the US failed to meet accessibility criteria.
In an effort to remedy some of the barriers people with disabilities face, Senator Duckworth has introduced the All Station Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act of 2021 (S. 1680). The ASAP Act would establish a grant program to improve the accessibility of rail systems by increasing the number of existing stations or facilities for passenger use that meet or exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act’s construction standards. The program would appropriate $10 billion over 10 years for these grants.
Access Living, a Center for Independent Living in Chicago, IL, is leading efforts to get the ASAP Act passed into law. They are looking for organizations to join the ASAP Act’s list of supporters and for individuals to email their members of Congress.
- Add your organization as a supporter
- Send an email to your members of Congress to urge them to sign on to the ASAP Act
If you sign up, you will also receive occasional action alerts and updates on the bill’s progress. You can contact [email protected] if you have any questions.
For more information, including additional background on the ASAP Act and a full list of organizational supporters, visit Access Living’s ASAP Act web page.
