Implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: an evaluation of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County's Freedom Passport Program

Abstract

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and applies to, among other things, public transit systems. It requires transit agencies to provide accessible fixed-route service and facilities for use by disabled individuals, including hydraulic wheelchair lifts. In addition, paratransit service of comparable quality, must be provided for those individuals who are unable to use accessible fixed-route service. Many U.S. transit agencies are finding it difficult to comply fully with these requirements. There are disabled individuals presently using paratransit service, whether ADA qualified or not, who are functionally capable of using accessible fixed-route transit for most trip purposes. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston METRO) has instituted the Freedom Passport Program to encourage disabled individuals who are functionally capable to use fixed-route transit. The Program entitles users of METROLift, Houston METRO's specialized paratransit service, to obtain a "Passport" allowing them to travel on regular-route buses at no cost. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the Freedom Passport Program and its effectiveness in mainstreaming disabled transit users. It was determined from the October 1994 survey results that there was an increase in the number of Freedom Passport holders since September 1993; there was an increase in subsidy savings to METRO and no change in the revenue foregone by METRO as a result of mainstreaming disabled transit users since September 1993; mode choice is dependent on trip purpose, i.e. disabled individuals are more likely to use paratransit for medical trips and fixed-route service for shopping, visiting, or social trips; people who rode the fixed-route buses prior to the Freedom Passport Program are more likely to participate in the Program; and ambulatory individuals are more likely to use fixed-route service than wheelchair-bound individuals.