FTA releases transportation guidelines for disabled Americans

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently released updated guidelines for Americans with disabilities and their service dogs; currently, every time employees with public transit agencies encounter questions involve passengers who have a service dog, the employees must access the transportation regulations from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which takes significant time and effort as provisions dedicated to service animals are located in three different sections of the regulation guidelines.

To solve this problem, the FTA has published an ADA Circular. The Circular is 200 pages long and clarifies the complexities of the ADA. This will make it easier for Americans with disabilities and for transit agency employees to find answers to various questions.

“Let me tell you what the Circular doesn’t do,” Therese McMillan, acting FTA administrator, said. “The guidance does not amend or supersede the DOT ADA regulations, nor is FTA creating any new rules. Instead, the Circular offers scenarios in a user-friendly volume to increase understanding about how to comply.”

The FTA collected public comments before publishing the Circular to guarantee that it is useful.

“As we worked on drafting the Circular, we sent it out for public comment to ensure we were listening to transit staff and riders, and we incorporated that feedback into the final guidance released last week,” McMillan said. “All of that input has contributed to what I’m sure will be a valuable resource for everyone who provides and rides public transportation.”