The 34th Anniversary of the ADA

Dear Editor,

Let us all celebrate the 34th Anniversary for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This was signed into law by former President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The Federal Transit Administration has done an excellent job during this period when it comes to investing in public transit to bring capital assets into compliance with ADA. Billions of dollars in FTA grants to over 900 transit agencies across America including the MTA LIRR, Suffolk County Transit Bus, and Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART) Bus have paid for tens of thousands of buses, paratransit vans, light rail, subway cars, commuter rail, and ferries that are ADA-accessible. Numerous subway, light rail, and commuter rail stations, and bus and ferry terminals, along with other transportation facilities, are accompanied in many cases with elevators and/or ramps have also become ADA compliant.

The MTA could also ask any major business, college, or hospital who benefit from many of the 472 NYC Transit subway stations adjacent to their facility to sponsor installation of an elevator(s). Let them split the cost 50% with the MTA NYC Transit in exchange for naming rights to the elevator(s). This could stretch both federal and local MTA dollars to bring even more stations into compliance with ADA. City, State, and Federal elected officials who have access to member item funding can also sponsor projects. NYC zoning laws offer private developers the incentive of 20% more floor space for construction of new buildings in exchange for paying both NYC Transit station improvements including maintenance costs.

Larry Penner
Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian, and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority NYC Transit bus, subway and Staten Island Railway, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads, MTA Bus, and NJ Transit, along with thirty other transit agencies in New York and New Jersey.