Amtrak Celebrates 20th Anniversary of ADA
July 26, 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Amtrak is proud of its role as an important mode of travel for people with disabilities and of its special services to the disabled community.
Over the course of the last two decades, with input from advocacy groups, Amtrak has taken significant steps to make travel on Amtrak more accessible for passengers with disabilities.
Stations are a key component of traveling by rail, and while Amtrak owns only a small percentage of the stations it serves, the railroad is committed to working with all station owners to create a nationwide rail system that is fully accessible to each and every passenger. Currently, 94 percent of Amtrak passengers begin or end their trip at accessible stations.
Approximately 74 percent of stations served by Amtrak that are subject to ADA requirements provide barrier-free access for passengers with mobility-impairments. Amtrak is also taking steps to further improve accessibility at many stations including the repair of platforms, ramps and sidewalks, and the replacement of aging or obsolete wheelchair lifts and placing new ones in locations where there had been none.
Upgrading stations and making them fully accessible is a challenge that requires significant, dedicated funding and, in many cases, complex access and other agreements. Amtrak is conducting a capital improvement program to bring all designated stations up to the necessary standards at a cost of more than $1.6 billion. This summer, we are updating the report. In FY ’10, Amtrak allocated $144 million for station accessibility improvements.
The Great American Stations Project was created specifically to forge partnerships with public officials, states and local communities to rebuild and revitalize stations. An ongoing series of Civic Conversations between Amtrak and the cities we serve supplement the website to serve as a resource for information about station redevelopment and ADA compliance. Station Design and Signage Guidelines including basic engineering and functional requirements for stations are provided through this website. To get started, click here.
