Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Salt Lake Express did not receive federal funding for its plan to offer daily bus service. It did not meet the requirement that every bus in the fleet be ADA compliant. The company offered to provide wheelchair-equipped buses for trips when passengers requested them.

Riders with disabilities in Felixstone, England, have been asked to keep track of times, stops and routes where they had been denied a ride because they could not get on the bus.

The entry space on its FasTracks commuter-railcar will be increased by a foot to prevent wheelchairs from becoming stuck in the space as cars prepare to leave the station.

The program, funded through a $1.7 million federal New Freedom grant, will reimburse expenses to convert taxicabs to accommodate wheelchairs.

A disabled Omnitrans rider had to conquer her fear of taking public transportation to get to her job. Part of what helped her were the courteous and patient drivers on her route.

Cities ranging from Lubbock, Texas to Seattle were noted for their accessible transit services.

Despite the bus system being equipped with ramps and low-floor access for wheelchair users, critics have complained that drivers have refused to pick them up.

The new taxis are Dodge Caravan mini-vans that have been specially modified by Viewpoint Mobility to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters in the rear compartment. The taxis cost $36,744.00 each and were funded in part by over $380,000 in New Freedom grants.

Operation recently undertook a major modernization project to unify each wheelchair lift at trolley stations to bring the entire system up to full ADA compliance.

All 170 bus routes are now wheelchair and scooter friendly. The agency’s last few remaining GM “New Look” non-accessible buses — a model that dates back to the 1950s — have been replaced by accessible Orion VII low-floor buses.