Congressman Ford hears the concerns of public transportation riders with disabilities.

Arthur Lopez and Congressman Harold Ford Jr.

(MEMPHIS August 7, 2001) Congressman Harold Ford Jr. brought together today a group of riders with disabilities, the Federal Transit Administration and the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) to hear concerns about accessibility of the public transit system and paratransit. 

On July 9th ADAPT members disrupted the Trolley groundbreaking upset that a visiting FTA Administer was unprepared to discuss enforcement of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Congressman Ford suggested a dialogue at that time and brought back to Memphis Mr. Arthur Lopez the Director of the Office of Civil Rights for the Department of Transportation.

Congressman Ford began the meeting by congratulating the members of the disabled community for the courage to speak-up and bring these issues to his attention. He stated that the meeting today would not have occurred without individual's bravery to speak out. At the conclusion of the meeting Rep. Ford proposed a quarterly informal advisory committee to work with MATA and the City Council.

Sam Ware

Above all the other panel bureaucrats and advocates Samuel Ware stood out as the voice of common sense. He told of his roots as a paratransit rider when buses were usually late if they came at all. "Paratransit is definitely
better," said Sam, "now I only worry about getting home."

Although Sam is still a certified paratransit rider, he now uses the fixed-route more commonly to get around. Sam told Congressman Ford about discovering accessible fixed-route buses in California, "riding the bus was heaven," he said.

The problem Sam found with the fixed-route here in Memphis was the lack of curb-ramps in the city. Mr. Ware explained what he called "Black Holes;" which are places the accessible bus can drop you off but without curb-ramps there is no place to go. Sam called curb-ramps with utility poles obstructing them "semi-black holes."

Mr. Ware told about an experience on a full bus where three individuals had to give up their seats to allow him to use the accessible spot. Sam said that one individual jeered him by commenting to the riders who had to move: "now you know what it is like to give up your seat."

Will Hudson

Director Lopez told Sam that New York City had dealt with that issue with education. He said that the population of New York knows they must give up those seats. Most of the audience broke into applause when Mr. Lopez made this statement, it was the only applause given at the hearing.

Director Lopez stated the commitment of his office and the commitment of the new Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. "A resolution will not happen in Washington," said Mr. Lopez, "it must happen locally."

Mr. Lopez suggested some roads to bring community members in transportation together with community members in the disability community. He suggested benchmarking solutions, but concluded his opening comments by stating that the problems were systemic and would require education and training of the whole community.

The Congressman invited Mr. Will Hudson, President and General Manager of MATA, to speak next. Mr. Hudson made no excuses for problems individuals found with the MATA paratransit service. He stated that MATA would submit a report next week that will outline changes to improve accessibility, and he would recommend to the MATA Board of Commissioners that the public dialogue on accessibility be expanded. Later, Mr. Hudson said that MATA fixed-route would be fully accessible by 2003.

City Council Chairman E.C. Jones recognized that curb ramps play an important role in providing access to the community and Cliffie Pugh on the MATA Board of Commissioners stressed the need of working together.

Betty Anderson

The Congressman recognized Michael Heinrich in the audience who had two concerns. One was that the extension of the Trolley system would not "maximize the independence" of riders and the other was that the upcoming MATA report must include the scheduling and dispatch functions because they have the most chronic problems.

Betty Anderson told of many problems of the paratransit system such as a 10 minute estimated time being off by as much as an hour and dirty lap belts. She also pointed to curb ramps being a problem to take fixed-route transportation and the trolley not lining up with the lift.

"Promises do not get you to work on time," said Betty. "Don't treat us like children."