On February 17, System-Wide Accessibility hosted the PATI
External Engagement Committee Kick-Off Meeting in the Transportation Library on
Wednesday, February 17th, 2016. This meeting brought together
Secretary Stephanie Pollack, General Manager Frank DePaola and committee
members to discuss outlining capital funding limitations, prioritization
criteria and supporting analytics that will inform the near and long-term plans
for accessibility infrastructure spending. This effort has been established to
focus on high-impact improvements for greater system accessibility.
The External Engagement Committee is made up of a varied
set of stake holders to offer the greatest opportunity for a wide array of
feedback perspectives on determining what prioritization criteria should be
established for 100% access. The group will work to foster support of the PATI
process, offer input on long-term barrier removal plans and be a conduit to the
larger access minded community. Future meetings will be held on a quarterly
basis as associated data is gathered.
The MassDOT IT Web and
Electronic Communication Accessibility Subcommittee will be holding an
information session about the importance of building accessibility into
physical and virtual infrastructure, within MassDOT and across the state.
Representatives from MassDOT, MBTA SWA, the Massachusetts Office on Disability
(MOD), and the Massachusetts Office of Information Technology (MassIT) will be
presenting on a range of accessibility topics specific to their agencies.
Comprised of representatives
from MassDOT and the MBTA, The MassDOT IT Web and Electronic Communication
Accessibility Subcommittee is an internal body with a focus on the
accessibility of websites and digital materials. Their one-hour information
session is for employees only, and is currently being planned for the beginning
of March.
SWA’s
Internal Access Monitoring Data – January 2016
In
January, the Internal Access Monitoring (IAM) Program completed a total of 27
Ambulatory (AMB) bus trips and 35 Wheeled Mobility Device (WMD) bus trips.
In addition,
there were 45 Heavy Rail trips (Red, Orange, and Blue Lines) that monitored the
quality of audible station stop announcements and 5 trips that tested bridgeplate
deployments when boarding and alighting.
On
Light Rail (Green Line and Mattapan Trolley), there were 6 trips to monitor audible
stop announcements. On Commuter Rail, the IAM Program monitored a total of 4
trips for audible stop announcements.
Fixed-Route Accessibility Complaints – January 2016
The following data is comprised solely of complaints submitted to MBTA Customer
Communications. The aggregate complaints are divided into complaints by
transportation mode and complaint type for bus and subway service.
Complaint
Mode:
· Bus:
68
· Subway: 21
· Commuter Rail: 8
· Other: 22
o
Engineering
& Maintenance: 7
o
Marketing:
1
o
Parking:
1
o
Service
Planning: 3
o
SWA:
1
o
The
RIDE: 1
o
TPD: 8
Total: 119
Bus Complaint Type:
· Failure to Provide Reasonable
Accommodation Request: 11
o
Repositioning
bus to facilitate boarding/alighting: 2
o
Use
of ramp/lift/kneeler – ambulatory: 5
o
Other:
4
· Pass-by/Failure to Board: 18
o
Ambulatory:
12
o
Service
animal: 1
o
Wheeled
Mobility Device: 2
o
Type
of disability is unknown: 3
·
Pulling
to the curb: 7
·
Pre-boarding:
0
·
Bus
failed to serve customer’s intended bus stop:
1
·
Obstructed
bus stop: 1
·
Operator
departs bus stop before the customer is secure: 2
·
Rude
or offensive behavior: 10
·
Stroller(s)
obstructing priority seating area: 1
·
Vehicle
Engineering & Maintenance: 4
·
Other: 12
·
Multiple: 1
Subway
Complaint Type:
· Failure to Provide Reasonable
Accommodation Request: 1
o
Opening
rear doors for boarding and/or alighting: 1
· Stop announcements: 3
· Rude or offensive behavior: 1
· Snow removal on MBTA property: 1
· Vehicle Engineering &
Maintenance: 2
· Other: 13
Commuter
Rail Complaint Type:
· Stop announcements: 7
· Other: 1
January 2016 Elevator Uptime: 98.7%
MBTA System
Orientation Training
The
System Orientation training program is a course designed to familiarize seniors
and customers with disabilities with the accessible services offered by the
MBTA. The roughly three-hour course consists of a classroom portion and a
hands-on portion. Topics covered in the classroom portion may include:
· Benefits of using transit
· Trip planning
· Reduced fare information
· General accessibility facts
· Safety
· Contacting customer service
The hands-on portion of the training focuses on such topics
as:
· Identifying bus stops or train
stations
· Finding the right bus or train to
board
· Boarding and exiting procedures
· Paying your fare
· Access features on buses and trains
including:
o
Automated
stop announcement equipment
o
Priority
seating
o
Securement
area
Availability:
First and third Thursday each month
Approximate
time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
For
more information about the training program or to participate, please contact Linda
Shepard Salzer, Ways2Go Travel Trainer Door2Door Transportation by SCM.
E-mail: lsalzer@scmtransportation.org
Phone: 857-756-5893
Please
leave your name, a phone number, the best time to be contacted, and the purpose
of the call. Reasonable accommodations for training may be arranged upon
request.
The
Bus Training School has two ongoing classes for operators and bus personnel at
the Charlestown Garage training facility.
An eight-hour monthly class that utilizes modules and
videos on customers with disabilities, service animals, use of ramps and lifts,
and other accessibility-related topics. Classroom and hands-on instruction
conducted on board the bus.
Next scheduled training:
Thursday,
March 24, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charlestown
Bus Garage, Building #6
An
ADA Refresher Training Module with classroom and hands-on instruction on board
the bus. Also includes state-of-the-art bus simulator. Due to space
restrictions, classes are limited to one observer (and Personal Care Assistant,
if applicable).
Availability:
Varying weekdays, excluding holidays
Approximate
time: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
To
learn more about scheduling and attendance at either program, please contact:
Kurt Echols, System-Wide Accessibility
Voice: 617-222-5254
TTY: 617-222-5045
Please
allow at least one week advance notice from the date of the scheduled training
you wish to attend.
Whether
you had a great experience on the MBTA or encountered obstacles, we want to
know about it. Contact the Customer Communication Department by calling
617-222-3200 or 617-222-5146 (for TTY users).
Office
hours:
Monday
- Friday 6:30am - 8:00pm
Saturdays
and Sundays 7:30am - 6:00pm
You
may also voice your comments and concerns online at
http://www.mbta.com/customer_support/feedback/.
If
your concern is in reference to a bus operator, train personnel, or other MBTA
staff, please try to document the following information:
· Date, time and location of the issue
· Bus route number or train line
· Destination of bus route or train
line
· Vehicle number of the bus or train
(if possible)
· Badge number of the employee(s)
involved (if possible)
· Physical description of the
MBTA employee (if possible)
· Boarding and exiting location of the
bus or train
· Descriptive summary of the issue or
concern
Upon request, this report will be available in alternate
languages or formats (Braille, audio, etc.). To make a request, please contact
Kurt Echols in SWA at kechols@mbta.com or 617-222-5254.