The MBTA announced that its System-wide Accessibility Department (SWA) launched an online survey about how the MBTA can improve its communication efforts, communicate more effectively and inclusively, and better connect with people with disabilities and/or older adults.

The online survey serves as a step in the T’s work to improve the inclusivity of its communication and outreach strategies with SWA staff having previously connected with local community and advocacy groups, requesting these groups to encourage their members to take the survey.

This online survey is available today through February 16, 2022, at mbta.com/SWA-survey.

“The MBTA has made great progress in working toward a fully accessible service, from upgrading stations to operator trainings to the design and procurement of new vehicles – but we know there’s always more we can be doing,” said Steve Poftak, MBTA GM. “The results of this survey will help us to better understand how we can better communicate with riders about important accessibility and T-related topics.”

Over the last several years, the T has upgraded over 20 stations to make them fully accessible, constructed more than 50 new station elevators, purchased new buses with ramps and reconfigured seating layout with more space, retrained operators and station agents on safety and accessibility, partnered with a new customer advisory committee to involve riders in key decisions, and more.

SWA designed the online survey to help supplement feedback from riders and future riders about the kinds of communication barriers that exist, how the MBTA can narrow the information gap in communicating with riders, and how the MBTA can improve its communication efforts about important accessibility and MBTA-related issues.

The MBTA said it hopes to develop strategies to better connect with riders, particularly non-native-English speakers and older adults.