Fw: October Extra: ESPA Releases Mobility Planning Service Retrospective - New Resource

[Guest guest]

Easter SealsFYI

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

October Extra: ESPA Releases Mobility Planning Service Retrospective -

New Resource

October 2011

Dear Friend,

Welcome to Extra, Easter Seals Project ACTION's monthly

newsletter.

The news this month:

Upcoming Training

Rail Accessibility: Ensuring Equal Access to a Growing

Transportation Mode-Webinar

On December 1 at 2 p.m., ESPA will conduct a webinar, Rail

Accessibility: Ensuring Equal Access to a Growing Transportation Mode. Rail is

becoming an increasingly popular transportation mode with record ridership among

existing systems, new light-rail development in multiple cities, and plans for

implementing high-speed rail across the country. This webinar will focus on how

accessibility features are currently being included in the design of new rail

projects, how they were built into those projects, and how other designers and

communities can include accessibility in the planning process for future

projects. Presenters will include Devylder, senior advisor for

Accessible Transportation at the U.S. Department of Transportation, and

Skiver, deputy chief operations officer at the land Transit Administration.

Registration deadline: November 25.

ESPA News

ESPA Releases Mobility Planning Service Retrospective-New

Resource

As ESPA celebrates ten years of working closely with

communities across the United States and the U.S. territories to enhance

accessible transportation options at the local level-first through Mobility

Planning Services (MPS) and now through the Accessible Transportation Coalitions

Initiative (ATCI)-we take time to reflect upon and celebrate the accomplishments

of these dedicated communities. This retrospective highlights the work of a

sampling of MPS teams from 2001 to 2010 and concludes with several of the

lessons we learned from these remarkable MPS teams and communities.

ESPA Currently Accepting Applications for the 2011 Accessible

Transportation Coalitions Initiative

If your community is ready to create accessible transportation

solutions and engage local leaders in the process, Project ACTION is ready to

support your community! Ten communities across the United States will be

selected to participate in the Accessible Transportation Coalitions Initiative

(ATCI) to identify transportation accessibility goals and develop an action plan

to meet them. Selected communities will receive on-site facilitation at a

two-day event held in their local communities and one year of individualized

follow-up technical assistance. Additional information, requirements and

application materials are available on the ESPA website. For questions about

ATCI, contact Donna at 800-659-6428 or ATCI@.... Application

deadline: December 22.

ESPA Honors APTA President Millar with Champion Award

On October 1 at ESPA's national steering committee (NSC)

meeting held during the American Public Transportation Association's annual

conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, ESPA honored APTA president Millar

with a Champion Award. Millar, who started as APTA's president in 1996 and is

retiring this month, has been a strong supporter of accessible public

transportation and the work of ESPA. Under Millar's direction, APTA worked with

ESPA on a number of initiatives, including releasing the resource ADA Essentials

for Transit Board Members. Before coming to APTA, Millar was the executive

director of the Port Authority of Allegheny County for 13 years and worked for

24 years in transportation operations and management. ESPA was also proud to be

a participant in the Gala honoring Millar and to have the opportunity to

share our appreciation for his many accomplishments in a tribute video for him.

ESPA National Steering Committee Participates in APTA

Committee Meetings

During the pre-conference committee meetings held at APTA's

Annual Meeting, members of ESPA's National Steering Committee (NSC) attended a

number of APTA meetings including the Access Committee, the ADA Subcommittee,

the Older Adults Subcommittee, and several more. It was a valuable opportunity

for the NSC members to network and participate in these important forums for

exchange and information sharing. ESPA is grateful to APTA for enabling our NSC

leadership to participate in these meetings.

Take the 2011 ESPA Training and Resources Survey

We want to hear from you! ESPA appreciates your use of our

resources and your participation in our training activities. Please complete

this short survey and help us to create resources and training events to meet

the needs of the transportation field and the disability community.

Ask Project ACTION-New Section on Homepage

ESPA has created a new section on its website that will

provide answers to popular questions that ESPA receives. This month's question:

" My local paratransit provider tells me that I live beyond their service area so

they can't give me a ride. But I am eligible for the paratransit service. How

can I be eligible and not get a ride? " View the answer online.

Industry News

Two Circulars Proposed for Recipients of FTA Financial

Assistance

On September 28, the Federal Transit Administration proposed

two new circulars on the topic of civil rights: Title VI Requirements and

Guidelines for Federal Transit Administration Recipients (*.PDF) and

Environmental Justice Policy Guidance for Federal Transit Administration

Recipients (*.PDF). To receive copies of the circulars in alternative formats,

contact the FTA Office of Management Planning, TAD-10, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE,

E44-404 - East Building Washington, DC 20590.

DOT Releases New Rules that Enhance Transportation Services

for Americans with Disabilities

On September 15, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is amending its Americans

with Disabilities Act regulations, which will include requiring passenger

railroads to provide level-entry boarding at new or altered stations in which no

track passing through the station and adjacent to platforms is shared with

existing freight rail operations. The rule also requires that transit providers

carry a wheelchair and wheelchair-user if the lift and vehicle can physically

and safely accommodate them. In addition, on September 19, the U.S. DOT proposed

a regulation that would require airlines to make their websites and kiosks

accessible to individuals with disabilities.

28th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability

& Diversity

The 28th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on

Disability & Diversity will bring together a diverse international gathering of

academics, community leaders, self-advocates, specialists and officials on March

26-27, 2012 in Honolulu, Hawaii. On March 24-25, 2012, the Pacific Rim

International Forum, a Conference pre-event, will highlight the potential to

transform lives and communities through the theoretical and practical

application of human rights norms and standards. For questions, contact

Charmaine Crockett at (808) 956-7539 or prinfo@.... Register for the

conference by January 13, 2012 to receive the early-bird rate.

Research

Technological Innovations in Transportation for People with

Disabilities Workshop Summary Report

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has released a report

summarizing a workshop from February 2011 that examined technological

innovations in accessible transportation. The workshop included a panel of

speakers made up of disability experts, academic professionals, transportation

industry experts, and other professionals. ESPA Senior Director Leary

participated in the workshop as the lead for group four, Universal Design and

Accessible Transportation. Through the distribution of this report, the Federal

Highway Administration aims to encourage further discussion regarding the

development of technological applications for pedestrians and travelers with

disabilities.

ACRP Report 52: Wayfinding and Signing Guidelines for Airport

Terminals and Landside

TRB's Airport ative Research Program (ACRP) Report 52:

Wayfinding and Signing Guidelines for Airport Terminals and Landside is designed

to provide airports with the tools necessary to help passengers find their way

in and around the airport. The guidelines focus on four areas of the airport:

roadways, both on-airport and off-airport access roads; parking; curbside and

ground transportation; and terminals. In addition, the guidelines address

developing a wayfinding strategy; the use of technology and visual displays; and

color, fonts and sizes.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Did you miss last month's Extra? Previous issues are available

on the website.

The electronic editions of the latest and archived issues of

Update, ESPA's biannual newsletter, are also available online. To be added to

the surface mailing list, please sign up online at www.projectaction.org. Or,

call ESPA at (202) 347-3066 or toll-free at (800) 659-6428.

Follow us on Twitter @projectaction

Follow our blog Viewpoints - Pathways to Accessible

Transportation

Thank you for inviting Easter Seals Project ACTION's Extra

into your mailbox.

If you received this email in error or no longer wish to

receive Easter Seals Project ACTION's monthly online newsletter, please

unsubscribe. You can also update your name, email address or other contact

information at any time. We respect your desire for privacy and will not make

your name or email address available to other organizations.

Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) is funded through a

cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal

Transit Administration, and is administered by Easter Seals, Inc. This document

is disseminated by ESPA in the interest of information exchange. Neither Easter

Seals nor the U.S. DOT, FTA assumes liability for its contents or use thereof.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Easter Seals Project ACTION, 1425 K Street, NW Suite 200,

Washington, DC 20005