PUBLIC POLICY AND TRANSIT SERVICES FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS

Because of increased awareness of the need for transportation for that segment of society whose mobility is limited, there have been increased efforts to establish the funding mechanisms, the management structures, and the operational equipment for such transportation service. However, these attempts, well intended as they are, sometimes have produced less than optimal results because of a lack of (a) knowledge of appropriate solutions to the problems involved, (b) cooperative effort among agencies in some areas, and (c) overall policy direction. This paper discusses efforts being made to overcome these deficiencies. To determine levels of activity in the transit industry, the American Public Transit Association (formerly the American Transit Association) surveyed its transit-operating members for details of all types of specialized services they are providing, not only the demand-responsive services that actually provide mobility but also educational programs teaching handicapped persons how to use transit, research into needs of handicapped persons on a local or statewide basis, and cooperative arrangements with other organizations to serve the needs of the handicapped. The information resulting from the study is viewed partly as a means to assist operators in establishing or expanding their specialized services by providing examples of successful efforts already under way. Perhaps more important, this information should be valuable as an input to the formulation of a comprehensive national policy to better define the appropriate programs for transit operators. Results of the survey are discussed. Also included are details of nontransit and paratransit activities in providing mobility and how the different forms of transportation have been successfully used in different areas. The relationship of these activities to the establishment of policy and regulations by various levels of government is viewed as a crucial factor.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/563/563-008.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=PUBLIC+POLICY+AND+TRANSIT+SERVICES+FOR+HANDICAPPED+PERSONS&author=J.+Schnell&author=P.+Braum&publication_year=1976
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Public Transportation Planning and Development. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Schnell, John B
  • Braum, Philip H
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 75-88
• Monograph Title: Public Transportation Planning
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 563
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Demand responsive transportation; Mobility; Paratransit services; Persons with disabilities; Public policy; Public transit; Regulation; Transportation policy
• Old TRIS Terms: Government intervention; Special service
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00138152
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024730
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 4 1981 12:00AM