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MTA To Be Sued For Violating Disabilities Act
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Aug 11, 2010
Modified Aug 11, 2010
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By
Jaya Saxena
Published Aug 11, 2010
Modified Aug 11, 2010
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The South Brooklyn Legal Center is planning a lawsuit against the MTA, claiming their bus and Access-a-Ride cuts are a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act and that the subway is not a viable alternative. Attorney Koert Wehberg told NY1, "A person in a wheelchair can get on any bus. Whereas, even when you can look at the MTA's list of what they call key stations, the stations that are supposed to be accessible under the ADA, they might say they are accessible. But if the elevator is out of order, it might as well not be accessible." And if the elevator gets stuck, well, you're SOL.
One disabled rider said, "Without those Brooklyn buses, I can only get to work with Access-A-Ride. Access-A-Ride is a wonderful service for most of us, but it's still accessibility by appointment, which is difficult." But depending on where she lives, there might be some hope. Transport Workers Union Local 100 said it got permission from TLC to operate a dollar-van service along the old B71 route in Park Slope, and will employ drivers laid off by the MTA. The service is supposed to launch in mid-September (they'll miss the original August 16th start date), but the TLC has yet to set a firm date. TWU 100 is also looking to operate four other bus lines on the TLC's van share pilot program.
Oddly, TWU is also embroiled in a lawsuit against the dollar-van program, arguing that it's illegal. In a recent op-ed in the Brooklyn Paper, TWU 100 President John Samuelson claims the vans are a "backdoor way to cut bus service and justify the firing of city bus operators and mechanics," and that "every rider wants a clean, air-conditioned city bus rather than a seat in an unregulated dollar van." But they seem to be OK as long as TWU is operating the vans.
Tagged
americans with disabilities act
b71
bus
dollar van
lawsuit
MTA
mta cuts
TWU Local 100
Jaya Saxena
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