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NOVEMBER, 2005 UPDATE

A lot has happened since our last E-Update in Mid-October.  In the past five weeks the Coalition has taken some major steps to improve accessibility to public transportation for riders with disabilities. as well as learned of significant developments.  This update aims to inform you of at least some of them.  Please feel free to send us your questions, comments or concerns at any time.

IN THIS UPDATE:

1. REMINDER OF MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
2. COALITION SUES TA OVER FREQUENT ELEVATOR OUTAGES
3. ELEVATOR UPDATES
4. METRO-NORTH RAILROAD AGREES TO LAUNCH SYSTEM-WIDE INVESTIGATION INTO STATION ACCESSIBILITY
5. WHAT WILL THE MTA'S FARE BREAKS MEAN FOR RIDERS WITH DISABILITIES?
6. NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS ENDORSE COALITION'S EFFORTS 
7. UPCOMING MEETINGS OF POTENTIAL INTEREST
8. DO YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE DISABLED RIDERS COALITION PURSUE?

1. MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

The Coalition has made tremendous efforts to advocate on behalf of and serve as a resource to riders with all types of disabilities with regard to public transportation.  However, such efforts can be quite costly and we are severely strapped for cash. 

As such we urge all individuals and organizations that support our efforts to consider becoming members today.  We have numerous levels of membership, which start at $10 for individuals and $60 for organizations.  For more information or to become a member please visit our website at http://disabledriders.org/JOIN.htm.  

We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our newest member organization, Disabled in Action of Metropolitan New York, as well as all individuals who have joined our organization.

2. COALITION FILES SUIT AGAINST TA OVER FREQUENT ELEVATOR OUTAGES

 
On October 28th, the Disabled Riders Coalition, along with Edith Prentiss and Michael Harris filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the MTA and the New York City Transit Authority over the TA's failure to keep subway elevators in good repair.

The suit was prompted by a long-term elevator outage at the West 4th Street subway station and alleged that the TA has not met its burden under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act to adequately maintain subway elevators in a prompt fashion.

The case, Disabled Riders Coalition, et al v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, et al, is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern Circuit of New York.

3. SUBWAY ELEVATOR UPDATE

WEST 4th STREET - After our lawsuit was filed, signs were placed at every station served by the subway lines that run through the West 4th Street Station and announcements were made on  trains to inform riders of the outage.  The elevator from the southbound platform and that to the street are now back in operation.  Full service to all elevators at the West 4th Street station is expected to be restored within the next few days, making it once again fully accessible.  Cross your fingers and call the NYCT Elevator Hotline (800-734-6772) to verify operation before relying on the northbound Sixth Avenue Line (B, D, F, V) elevator.

179th STREET - This station, the most recent to be certified as ADA Compliant by New York City Transit (August, 2005) has had its elevator in and out of service on a constant basis.  In early October the TA took the elevator out of service for maintenance.  According to the TA, full service SHOULD be restored by November.  As it is now November 25th and Elevator# 433, which goes from the north platform to the north mezzanine remains out of service, we are mildly skeptical.  We will be closely monitoring the status of this elevator and will be sure to keep you posted.

63rd STREET - LEXINGTON AVENUE - Elevator# 401, which goes from the mezzanine to the street has been "temporarily out of service" for over three months now and we have seen no effort to make any repairs.  We will continue to pressure the TA with regards to this elevator and will keep you posted with regard to its status.

CONEY ISLAND - STILLWELL AVENUE WEST END LINE - As you recall our October E-Update expressed extreme concern over  the status of Elevator # 313, which serves the aforementioned platform, and according to the NYCT Elevator Hotline was "temporarily out of service".  Given that the platform was supposed to have been accessible in May we were deeply disturbed when in early November we found that same message remained on said hotline.  As we discovered at a November 9th news conference aimed at attacking the TA for delays in accessibility, Elevator# 313 was removed almost two years ago, a cement wall remains where it once stood.  On that date, the 6AM update on the Hotline continued to indicate that Elevator# 313 was "temporarily out of service".  By the 10AM update, by which time they had received press inquiries from multiple media outlets Elevator# 313 was removed from the Hotline.

To access the West End Line Platform, one must first walk (or wheel) up a long ramp to the N Train Platform, then take Elevator# 701 up to an overpass, walk all the way across and take Elevator# 702 back down to the D Train Platform (NYCT told News 12 Brooklyn that this was "the only way to maintain full accessibility"), this assumes that both elevators are fully functional (according to a statement made by NYCT to NY 1, these two elevators went online on October 16th, 2005).  In the two hours we were there on November 9th, the elevators went in and out of service four times, at one point leaving a TA employee to tell Michael Harris and a reporter from News 12 that they would have to go all the way back to the Pacific Street - Atlantic Avenue station, turn around and come back.  Several TA employees present at the station said that the elevator had never worked properly and monitoring of those two elevators by the Coalition has confirmed this; Elevator # 701 has been out of service for a week and as of the writing of this update BOTH Elevator# 701 and 702 are "closed", making the West End Line Platform non-accessible.  Problems with either of the two elevators would make the D Train Platform unusable by a rider using a wheelchair.  This issue has gained media attention from NY 1, News 12 Brooklyn, WNYC, WCBS and Courier Life.

DeKALB AVENUE RTI - We have received an extremely high number of complaints with regard the new elevator going from the concourse level to the street being out of service.  To all who have complained about this, your complaints have not fallen on deaf ears.  We have repeatedly complained to NYCT with regard to this matter and have gotten no response, however we will not give in and continue to demand answers as to why this brand new major station elevator (which is out of service as of writing) keeps breaking down.

4. MNR TO LAUNCH SYSTEM-WIDE ACCESSIBILITY INVESTIGATION

At the November 15th meeting of the MTA's MetroNorth Railroad Committee, the Coalition spoke out about numerous railroad stations, which despite being accessible to riders who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids,  are not designated as such on MNR maps and timetables and that the MTA's website indicates that many of these stations "may meet ADA requirements".  The Coalition stated that telling a disabled rider that a station "MIGHT BE ACCESSIBLE" was useless and called upon the Railroad to conduct a full investigation into the matter.

We were contacted yesterday by MNR President Peter Cannito's office, stating his intent to conduct such an investigation and asked to speak with representatives from our transportation team next week.  The Coalition looks forward to working with MetroNorth on this endeavor.

5. WHAT WILL THE HOLIDAY FARE BREAK MEAN FOR DISABLED RIDERS?

While the Coalition had initially taken a position in opposition of the MTA's proposed holiday fare break, as we felt that such a proposal was  short-sighted, given its passage here is what disabled riders should know:

Riders with a Reduced-Fare MetroCard (subways) or other valid Reduced-Fare ID (buses) will only have to pay $.50 when traveling on any local buses, including Command, New York Bus, TriBoro and Queens Surface or subways during the following periods:

Now through November 27th
All weekends from now through January 2nd
December 24th - January 2nd.

During that same period fare on Access-A-Ride will be $1 and that on AbleRide will be $1.75, guests are also eligible for this reduced rate.

Additional details are available at http://mta.info/mta/holidayqa-1.htm (Subways & Local Buses), http://mta.info/mta/holidayqa-3.htm (ParaTransit), http://mta.info/mta/holidayqa-2.htm (Commuter Rail).

6. NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS ENDORSE THE COALITION'S EFFORTS

Yesterday morning, we were pleased to accept CDNY's endorsement of our advocacy efforts.  The endorsement, which was sent to every College Democrat in New York State, read as follows:

"A great new project worthy of your time and support can be found in the Disabled Riders Coalition, a group dedicated to lobbying for greater access to New York's public transportation system for disabled riders."

The endorsement, which came as a surprise, as we had never even solicited their support, concluded by saying:

"They also serve as a resource for riders with disabilities, providing updates on subway, bus, ferry and commuter rail accessibility. And, if this weren't enough, their campaign coordinator is none other than active New York College Democrat Michael Harris. Please check out their website at www.disabledriders.org , and look into what you can do for this excellent cause."

7. UPCOMING MEETINGS OF INTEREST

On Thursday, December 8th @ 6 PM the New York City Transit Authority's Office of ADA Compliance will hold a CCC meeting at 2 Broadway, NYC.  The main focus of discussion will be buses, although comments on other matters will be accepted.  Other meetings, which may be of interest include:
 

ALL MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT 347 MADISON AVENUE, NYC (BETWEEN EAST 44th and EAST 45th STREET).  IF YOU WISH TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT (2 MINUTE TIME LIMIT), YOU MUST ARRIVE 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO ANY COMMITTEE MEETING AND 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO ANY FULL BOARD MEETING.

8. DO YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE COALITION ADDRESS?

We are here to lobby and advocate on YOUR behalf and to serve as a resource to YOU!  In order to effectively do so, we need to know what issues YOU would like to see us address.  Please send your questions, comments or concerns to feedback@disabledriders.org or call Michael Harris at (914) 323-1725.  We also encourage you to utilize our online message board, available at http://disabledriders.org/drc_discuss_frm.htm.

Thank you for your continued support!

Best regards,

Transportation Team
Disabled Riders Coalition
C/o Michael A. Harris
2900 Purchase Street
Purchase, New York 10577

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Disabled Riders Coalition
feedback@disabledriders.org  
www.disabledriders.org  

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