Accessibility and the MBTA Path to Integration and … · Path to Integration and Inclusion ... (SMI) – Major emphasis on ... • Measurements of horizontal and vertical gaps between

Page Page 11 of 26of 26

Accessibility and the MBTA Accessibility and the MBTA Path to Integration and InclusionPath to Integration and Inclusion

MBTA Board of Directors MBTA Board of Directors MBTA/BCIL Settlement UpdateMBTA/BCIL Settlement Update

July 10, 2008July 10, 2008


•• Accessibility History and BackgroundAccessibility History and Background–– A Work in ProgressA Work in Progress

•• MBTA/BCIL SettlementMBTA/BCIL Settlement–– Key Settlement CommitmentsKey Settlement Commitments–– Progress to DateProgress to Date

•• Office for Transportation Access (OTA)Office for Transportation Access (OTA)–– Fixed Route ReorganizationFixed Route Reorganization

•• Future Efforts to Improve Accessibility Future Efforts to Improve Accessibility SystemSystem--WideWide

•• WrapWrap--upup

AgendaAgenda


History and Background of History and Background of Accessibility Rules and LawsAccessibility Rules and Laws

•• 1958 Building Design Standards Conference1958 Building Design Standards Conference–– Called for voluntary standards for design of Called for voluntary standards for design of

accessible buildingsaccessible buildings•• 1961 ANSI Design Guidelines1961 ANSI Design Guidelines

–– First scientifically developed design guidelines in First scientifically developed design guidelines in the worldthe world

•• 1965 Rehabilitation Act Amendment1965 Rehabilitation Act Amendment–– National Commission on Architectural Barriers National Commission on Architectural Barriers

establishedestablished•• 1968 Architectural Barriers Act1968 Architectural Barriers Act

–– Congress passes Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)Congress passes Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)•• Barrier removal in Federal buildingsBarrier removal in Federal buildings


•• 1973 Rehabilitation Act: Section 5041973 Rehabilitation Act: Section 504–– Design standards and enforcement for federal Design standards and enforcement for federal

fund recipients; includes agencies such as the fund recipients; includes agencies such as the MBTAMBTA

–– First Official Focus on Transportation AccessFirst Official Focus on Transportation Access•• 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

–– Full equality and integration into American Full equality and integration into American society society

•• Includes access to all modes of MBTA transportation; Includes access to all modes of MBTA transportation; bus, rail, boatbus, rail, boat

•• 2002 BCIL Class Action Law Suit2002 BCIL Class Action Law Suit

History and Background of History and Background of Accessibility Rules and LawsAccessibility Rules and Laws


Past Elevator Contract PerformancePast Elevator Contract Performance

85.80%85.80%95.21%95.21%98.31%98.31%802/803802/803StateState

85.41%85.41%91.05%91.05%93.72%93.72%818/820818/820PorterPorter

45.74%45.74%92.35%92.35%93.45%93.45%892892DowntownDowntown

44.44%44.44%87.39%87.39%89.00%89.00%808/892808/892ParkPark28.01%28.01%95.09%95.09%92.94%92.94%821821HarvardHarvard

200520052004200420032003ElevatorElevatorStationStation

Table Reference: Civil Action No. 2 CV 11504 MEL Table Reference: Civil Action No. 2 CV 11504 MEL –– Analysis of Elevator Incident DataAnalysis of Elevator Incident Data

•• Contract Type: Repair ContractContract Type: Repair Contract•• Contractor: KoneContractor: Kone•• Contract Period: 2001Contract Period: 2001--20052005

Percentage of Time Stations were Accessible by ElevatorPercentage of Time Stations were Accessible by Elevator


•• Contract Type: Contract Type: Preventative Maintenance, Preventative Maintenance, managed by MBTA Operations (SMI)managed by MBTA Operations (SMI)–– Major emphasis on maintaining elevators in good Major emphasis on maintaining elevators in good

working order to ensure optimum accessibilityworking order to ensure optimum accessibility–– Increase in elevator support staffIncrease in elevator support staff–– Reduction in elevator repair response timeReduction in elevator repair response time

•• Contractors: Contractors: KoneKone, , LerchLerch Bates, Vertical Bates, Vertical Transportation Excellence (VTX)Transportation Excellence (VTX)

•• Contract Period: 2005Contract Period: 2005--20102010

Current Elevator ContractCurrent Elevator Contract


MBTA/BCIL Settlement Agreement MBTA/BCIL Settlement Agreement

““ This agreement is based on a shared vision between This agreement is based on a shared vision between plaintiffs and the MBTA to make the MBTA a model plaintiffs and the MBTA to make the MBTA a model transit system accessible to all. There is a mutual transit system accessible to all. There is a mutual commitment and desire to comply not only with the commitment and desire to comply not only with the letter but also the spirit of the Americans with letter but also the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act, with the complete understanding that Disabilities Act, with the complete understanding that all people with disabilities must have every all people with disabilities must have every opportunity to be fully participating members of our opportunity to be fully participating members of our community and that fundamental to this opportunity is community and that fundamental to this opportunity is the right and ability to use public transportation in an the right and ability to use public transportation in an equal, effective, and dignified manner.equal, effective, and dignified manner.””

Reference: C.A. No. 02 CV 11504 MEL, preamble, dated April 10, 2Reference: C.A. No. 02 CV 11504 MEL, preamble, dated April 10, 2006 006


Creation of Department of Creation of Department of SystemSystem--Wide Accessibility (SWA)Wide Accessibility (SWA)

•• Under the direction of an AGMUnder the direction of an AGM•• Clearinghouse of information and subject Clearinghouse of information and subject

matter expertise regarding accessmatter expertise regarding access--related related projects and initiativesprojects and initiatives

•• Settlement Compliance Tracking (Matrix)Settlement Compliance Tracking (Matrix)–– MBTA personnel assigned to implement MBTA personnel assigned to implement

settlement commitmentssettlement commitments•• Compliance performance shared within the Compliance performance shared within the

MBTA, with the Federal Court appointed MBTA, with the Federal Court appointed Monitor, Plaintiffs and Plaintiff AttorneysMonitor, Plaintiffs and Plaintiff Attorneys


Additional Key MBTA/BCIL Additional Key MBTA/BCIL Settlement CommitmentsSettlement Commitments

•• Vertical access improvements (elevators) Vertical access improvements (elevators) –– Performance, replacement/redundantPerformance, replacement/redundant

•• Bus serviceBus service–– 60 individual commitments60 individual commitments

•• Improved service, new vehicles, improved maintenanceImproved service, new vehicles, improved maintenance

•• Customer complaint investigationCustomer complaint investigation•• Internal performance monitoringInternal performance monitoring•• Subway operationsSubway operations

–– Reduction in platform gapsReduction in platform gaps•• Improved future vehicle designsImproved future vehicle designs


Positive Impact of New Contract on Positive Impact of New Contract on Elevator PerformanceElevator Performance

System-Wide Elevator Performance

88.0%

90.0%

92.0%

94.0%

96.0%

98.0%

100.0%

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DECMonth

Upt

ime

Perc

ent

CY2006




88.0%

90.0%

92.0%

94.0%

96.0%

98.0%

100.0%


Upt

ime

Perc

ent

CY2007

CY2006




88.0%

90.0%

92.0%

94.0%

96.0%

98.0%

100.0%


Upt

ime

Perc

ent

CY2008

CY2007

CY2006


Bus ServiceBus Service

•• Bus fleet became 100% accessible in 2006Bus fleet became 100% accessible in 2006–– Procurement of new lowProcurement of new low--floor busesfloor buses

•• 155 buses received to date 155 buses received to date •• Additional 155 buses to be received by October 2008Additional 155 buses to be received by October 2008

•• Improved bus inspection and maintenance Improved bus inspection and maintenance by Bus Operationsby Bus Operations

•• Operators Recertification ProgramOperators Recertification Program–– Developed jointly between Bus Operations and Developed jointly between Bus Operations and

SystemSystem--Wide AccessibilityWide Accessibility•• Procedure basedProcedure based•• Video illustrating proceduresVideo illustrating procedures•• HandsHands--on opportunitieson opportunities•• Feedback from Federal Monitor and PlaintiffsFeedback from Federal Monitor and Plaintiffs


•• Customer Complaint InvestigationsCustomer Complaint Investigations–– Collaboration between Customer Support Collaboration between Customer Support

Services Center, SystemServices Center, System--Wide Accessibility, and Wide Accessibility, and all other MBTA departmentsall other MBTA departments

•• Root cause analysis, corrective action recommendation Root cause analysis, corrective action recommendation and trend analysisand trend analysis

•• Internal Access Monitoring ProgramInternal Access Monitoring Program–– Evaluate accessibility compliance on all modesEvaluate accessibility compliance on all modes–– Paid monitors with and without disabilitiesPaid monitors with and without disabilities–– Development of the new survey processing Development of the new survey processing

systemsystem•• Available to all MBTA departmentsAvailable to all MBTA departments

Additional InitiativesAdditional Initiatives


OTA Fixed Route Services OTA Fixed Route Services Transferred from Operations to Transferred from Operations to

SystemSystem--Wide AccessibilityWide Accessibility

•• Office for Transportation Access (OTA) Office for Transportation Access (OTA) fixedfixed--route functions divided into two route functions divided into two separate officesseparate offices–– SWA at 10 Park PlazaSWA at 10 Park Plaza

•• AccessibilityAccessibility--related MBTA trainingrelated MBTA training•• Customer accessibility complaint investigations Customer accessibility complaint investigations •• Internal accessibility monitoringInternal accessibility monitoring

–– SWA at Back BaySWA at Back Bay•• Dedicated reducedDedicated reduced--fare fare CharlieCardCharlieCard programprogram


SystemSystem--Wide Accessibility Office Wide Accessibility Office Established at Back BayEstablished at Back Bay

•• Exclusive focus on customer care and Exclusive focus on customer care and serviceservice–– ReducedReduced--fare CharlieCards for Persons with fare CharlieCards for Persons with

Disabilities and SeniorsDisabilities and Seniors•• Transportation Access Pass (TAP) Transportation Access Pass (TAP) •• Senior Senior •• Blind AccessBlind Access

•• Exclusive walkExclusive walk--in location for in location for ““THE RIDETHE RIDE””account depositsaccount deposits


Customer Service Enhancements Customer Service Enhancements

•• Benefits of Benefits of CharlieCardCharlieCard’’ss smart card smart card technologytechnology–– ReducedReduced--fare CharlieCards are registered to each fare CharlieCards are registered to each

customercustomer•• Funds are recoverable to the customerFunds are recoverable to the customer

–– Cards can be deactivated if lost or stolenCards can be deactivated if lost or stolen•• Greater reducedGreater reduced--fare conveniencefare convenience

–– Additional reducedAdditional reduced--fare service center at fare service center at Downtown Crossing Downtown Crossing

–– ReducedReduced--fare CharlieCards issued state wide fare CharlieCards issued state wide through Regional Transit Authorities (RTA) through Regional Transit Authorities (RTA)


MBTA Elevator StandardMBTA Elevator Standard•• Technical document that defines elevator best practice and Technical document that defines elevator best practice and

incorporates all requirements from the Settlement Agreement incorporates all requirements from the Settlement Agreement •• Establishes minimum technical requirements for elevator designEstablishes minimum technical requirements for elevator design to to

ensure compliance with all applicable accessibility requirementsensure compliance with all applicable accessibility requirements(ADA, ABA, MAAB, etc) and the Settlement Agreement(ADA, ABA, MAAB, etc) and the Settlement Agreement

Sealed Sealed EpoxyEpoxy

100 ft/min100 ft/min6060””x 80x 80””Larger buttons, Larger buttons, minimum of minimum of

two panels per two panels per cabcab

Glass Glass used to used to

maximum maximum extent extent

allowableallowable

Glass Glass used to used to

maximum maximum extent extent

allowableallowable

Flooring Flooring MaterialMaterial

Minimum Minimum SpeedSpeed

Minimum Minimum SizeSize

Control Panel Control Panel DesignDesign

Cab/shaft Cab/shaft StyleStyle

Cab Cab DoorDoor

Examples of Key Elevator Design RequirementsExamples of Key Elevator Design Requirements


Redundant Elevator UpdateRedundant Elevator Update•• Elevator is available even when other elevator is out of Elevator is available even when other elevator is out of

service for repairs or maintenanceservice for repairs or maintenance•• Quantity of elevators is increased in busy and more Quantity of elevators is increased in busy and more

critical stations establishing alternate paths of travel for critical stations establishing alternate paths of travel for vertical accessvertical access

•• MBTA/BCIL Settlement Agreement requires the creation MBTA/BCIL Settlement Agreement requires the creation of the of the redundant elevator programredundant elevator program

Spring 2011Spring 201160%60%22ParkParkSpring 2010Spring 2010100%100%11StateState

Fall 2012Fall 2012100%100%44DowntownDowntownSummer 2011Summer 201190%90%22PorterPorter

Spring 2010Spring 2010100%100%11HarvardHarvardCompletion DateCompletion DateDesign StatusDesign StatusElevatorsElevatorsStationStation


Replacement Elevator UpdateReplacement Elevator Update

•• Strategic plan to identify elevators with the Strategic plan to identify elevators with the highest priority for replacement and upgradehighest priority for replacement and upgrade–– Entire system mapped out for future replacement Entire system mapped out for future replacement

and upgrade and upgrade •• Cost and timing targets under developmentCost and timing targets under development

•• MBTA Elevator Standard is implemented with MBTA Elevator Standard is implemented with each elevator to the greatest extent feasibleeach elevator to the greatest extent feasible

•• MBTA/BCIL Settlement Agreement requires the MBTA/BCIL Settlement Agreement requires the creation of the replacement elevator programcreation of the replacement elevator program–– First 17 replacement elevators identifiedFirst 17 replacement elevators identified–– Design and Construction to manage the projectDesign and Construction to manage the project

2121

Accessible Subway Stations in 1990


Accessible Subway Stations as of 2008


Accessible Subway Stations as of 2012


Platform Gap Reduction InitiativePlatform Gap Reduction Initiative

•• Measurements of horizontal and vertical Measurements of horizontal and vertical gaps between rail cars and platforms are gaps between rail cars and platforms are taken at each heavy rail station on quarterly taken at each heavy rail station on quarterly basisbasis

•• SystemSystem--Wide Maintenance Improvements Wide Maintenance Improvements (SMI) are realigning tracks and platforms as (SMI) are realigning tracks and platforms as necessary to reduce the gapsnecessary to reduce the gaps

•• Once track and platform work is complete, Once track and platform work is complete, rail cars will be evaluated for potential repair rail cars will be evaluated for potential repair (wheels, suspensions, etc.) to minimize (wheels, suspensions, etc.) to minimize remaining gapremaining gap


Future Accessibility EnhancementsFuture Accessibility Enhancements

•• Facility ImprovementsFacility Improvements–– Several stations under construction for renovation, Several stations under construction for renovation,

enhancement, etc.enhancement, etc.–– Several stations currently under design Several stations currently under design

•• Future Vehicle EnhancementsFuture Vehicle Enhancements–– Vehicle design opportunities to enhance Vehicle design opportunities to enhance

accessibilityaccessibility•• Red Line; Replacement of Series 1 rail carRed Line; Replacement of Series 1 rail car•• Orange Line; Replacement of Series 12 rail carOrange Line; Replacement of Series 12 rail car•• Green Line; Type 9 rail carGreen Line; Type 9 rail car


WrapWrap--upup

•• Continue to pursue the goal of making the Continue to pursue the goal of making the MBTA the global benchmark for accessible MBTA the global benchmark for accessible and inclusive public transportation and inclusive public transportation –– Influence and leverage both the Capital Investment Influence and leverage both the Capital Investment

Plan (CIP, 5 year plan) and Transportation Plan (CIP, 5 year plan) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP, 25 year plan)Improvement Program (TIP, 25 year plan)

•• Continue the compliance oversight and Continue the compliance oversight and external monitoring per the Settlement external monitoring per the Settlement AgreementAgreement–– Monitor the results received and make changes Monitor the results received and make changes

necessary to improve systemnecessary to improve system--wide accessibility for wide accessibility for all customersall customers

•• Questions?Questions?

Documents

Accessibility and the MBTA Path to Integration and … · Path to Integration and Inclusion ... (SMI) – Major emphasis on ... • Measurements of horizontal and vertical gaps between