Promising Practices and Solutions in Accessible Transportation: Service Animals and Public Transportation
You are invited to join a conference call.
Donna Smith, Training Manager for Easter Seals Project ACTION, will discuss current requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and promising practices from the transportation industry for accommodating customers with service animals on public transportation.
The one-hour program will be
at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time,
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.
Resources related to the presentation will be posted on this page and available one week prior to the conference. These materials are intended as additional resources to provide more in-depth information and it is not necessary to download them for the presentation.
Smith will address the following questions:
* How do I know if it’s a service animal?
* What should happen if other passengers are afraid of or allergic to dogs?
* Is there guidance on how to board service animals?
* What is the best way to train transit operators to serve customers who use service animals?
You must register!!
Dial-in instructions will be in your registration confirmation.
For more information or to register, go to:
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/Calendar/1098549204?view=Detail&id=29601
This conference call is part of Easter Seals Project ACTION’s Promising Practices and Solutions in Accessible Transportation (PPSAT) series.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
September Success Stories
Wayne RICC
- Advocacy efforts convinced Mayor Bing NOT to cut weekend and evening services to DDOT for at least the time being.
- September 25, 2009 will hold a Disability Fair
- The City of Grand Rapids will use federal stimulus money to put sidewalks along a four (4) mile stretch of 28th St.
- The transit provider will be holding another listening session. The first one was a success and it is expected there will be great attendance at the second one.
- CATA will hold two (2) listening sessions in October.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Getting There Together Weekly The What's Green Edition
Folks,
I know if I install a windmill in my Eastown backyard or solar panels on my roof, I'd immediately get cheers from some, scorn from others and just envy from a few. Add what ever intonation you think is appropriate for all three groups would say, "They're green."
But today when just about every product and service has "green" as part of the packaging or advertising, I am forced to ask, "What's green?"
As for "big" green things, check out the latest on The Grand Vision work in Northwest Michigan. (www.thegrandvision.org) This group of citizens have gotten out the green paint and are ready to color their region. They have had the audacity to develop a "land use and transportation study that will provide a framework for the next 50+ years of development in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Wexford counties." Their talking about a lot of geography and a lot of economic development within that 50+ year planning horizon. Check out what they're talking about for transportation plans. (www.thegrandvision.org/transportation)
Sounds pretty green to me.
And if you're in the traveling mood, they are hosting a group from Albuquerque and Santa Fe to talk about the work in that region. I don't know if a road trip to Traverse City next Thursday, September 17th, would be too green, but it sure would be informative.
As for "local" green things, check out this array of offerings coming for "Green Week" from Green Grand Rapids and the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks. Get called, "green," and more by cleaning up the Grand River or taking over a parking space.
Still sounding pretty green.
As for "far away" green things, check out this news piece from the Big D--Dallas. "The 45-mile Green, Orange and Blue Line DART Rail expansion is projected to generate more than $4 billion in economic activity between 2009 and 2014, according to a new study by economists at the University of North Texas. Including prior Green Line expenditures, the total economic activity is more than $5.6 billion."
"45 mile expansion" of light rail? In Texas?
"$5.6 billion" in economic activity as a result?
"Dallas Area Rapid Transit's light rail operations continue to be one of the best examples of the growing importance of transit, in all modes, to sustainable economic and community development," the researchers said.
Now I'm the one green with envy.
All for today.
Dave
David Bulkowski, J.D.
Executive Director
Disability Advocates of Kent County
Empowering Independence
3600 Camelot SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 949-1100, ext. 228; dave.b @ dakc.us
I know if I install a windmill in my Eastown backyard or solar panels on my roof, I'd immediately get cheers from some, scorn from others and just envy from a few. Add what ever intonation you think is appropriate for all three groups would say, "They're green."
But today when just about every product and service has "green" as part of the packaging or advertising, I am forced to ask, "What's green?"
As for "big" green things, check out the latest on The Grand Vision work in Northwest Michigan. (www.thegrandvision.org) This group of citizens have gotten out the green paint and are ready to color their region. They have had the audacity to develop a "land use and transportation study that will provide a framework for the next 50+ years of development in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Wexford counties." Their talking about a lot of geography and a lot of economic development within that 50+ year planning horizon. Check out what they're talking about for transportation plans. (www.thegrandvision.org/transportation)
Sounds pretty green to me.
And if you're in the traveling mood, they are hosting a group from Albuquerque and Santa Fe to talk about the work in that region. I don't know if a road trip to Traverse City next Thursday, September 17th, would be too green, but it sure would be informative.
As for "local" green things, check out this array of offerings coming for "Green Week" from Green Grand Rapids and the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks. Get called, "green," and more by cleaning up the Grand River or taking over a parking space.
Still sounding pretty green.
As for "far away" green things, check out this news piece from the Big D--Dallas. "The 45-mile Green, Orange and Blue Line DART Rail expansion is projected to generate more than $4 billion in economic activity between 2009 and 2014, according to a new study by economists at the University of North Texas. Including prior Green Line expenditures, the total economic activity is more than $5.6 billion."
"45 mile expansion" of light rail? In Texas?
"$5.6 billion" in economic activity as a result?
"Dallas Area Rapid Transit's light rail operations continue to be one of the best examples of the growing importance of transit, in all modes, to sustainable economic and community development," the researchers said.
Now I'm the one green with envy.
All for today.
Dave
David Bulkowski, J.D.
Executive Director
Disability Advocates of Kent County
Empowering Independence
3600 Camelot SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 949-1100, ext. 228; dave.b @ dakc.us
Monday, September 14, 2009
Michigan's Transit Funding Formula
Transportation Allies now has a site on YouTube.
Now you can watch the transit funding formula skit from last summer's UP transportation conference.
Go to www.YouTube.com/transportationallies to see more videos.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Getting There Together Weekly: The Sidewalk Sale Edition
Folks,
It looks like there are some serious concrete purchases on the horizon.
"Grand Rapids hopes to use stimulus funding to add sidewalks along 28th Street SE" read the headline in Wednesday's Grand Rapids Press' online edition--though I preferred the attention grabber on the front page of the print edition: "Ending a walk [or roll] on the wild side."
At least for two miles of the 28th Street corridor, new sidewalks will be present within the year. And as was pointed out in the Press article, transit advocate Casey Dutmer stated, "We've been working on this with [CCIT] for several years." And now the City of Grand Rapids will be buying some more sidewalks.
"Finally," said Jocelyn Dettloff, Disability Advocates' Development Director, in the piece on WOOD TV. "I can't tell you how many times I have actually seen someone in a wheelchair having to go outside from parking lot to parking lot onto 28th Street just to get around."
"It just makes Grand Rapids a more hospitable community for everyone," Jocelyn was quoted in the Fox 17 piece on the topic.
"So that everyone, including those with mobility challenges as well as anybody walking, can easily access businesses they want to travel to and spend their money," said Dettloff.
But why care about sidewalks when we talk about public transportation?
How else do people get from the bus stop to the front doors of the businesses and other places they are headed?
And based on The Rapid's ridership statistics, 777 people used the 28th Street route every weekday in May of this year. So at least 777 people are walking and rolling to and from bus stops up and down 28th Street each workday. Of course, this number doesn't include the people who get off the bus on a route that intersects 28th Street, say the Division or Kalamazoo routes, and then walk the few blocks to their final destination.
Funny how all the transportation options are connected and impact each other for the good and the bad.
And think what more and better sidewalks could do for our community. Others are doing just that. For instance, people in Detroit are concluding: "Slower traffic, more pedestrians could revive cities." Much of this thought comes from walkability expert, Dan Burden. Every once in a while he shows up in Kent County to bring his message of people scale transportation and the beauty of sidewalks. And on one occasion when I got to hear his presentation, I was greatly impressed by his emphasis on accessibility for all. Got to like that.
Finally, if you're looking for a way to better navigate the sidewalks we have, check out the updated Rapid website. There you will find their brand new set of rider tools. The one to feature is recently launched "nearest bus stop" feature. Type in an address and then watch the magic work! You get the closest ten stops and real time information on when the next bus will arrive at your chosen stop. Practical magic indeed.
And when riding the bus, if you discover other places in our community that need a sidewalk or two, let us know. We'll put that stretch of road on our list and work to get another sidewalk sale to benefit us all.
All for today.
Dave
David Bulkowski, J.D.
Executive Director
Disability Advocates of Kent County
Empowering Independence
3600 Camelot SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 949-1100, ext. 228; dave.b @ dakc.us
It looks like there are some serious concrete purchases on the horizon.
"Grand Rapids hopes to use stimulus funding to add sidewalks along 28th Street SE" read the headline in Wednesday's Grand Rapids Press' online edition--though I preferred the attention grabber on the front page of the print edition: "Ending a walk [or roll] on the wild side."
At least for two miles of the 28th Street corridor, new sidewalks will be present within the year. And as was pointed out in the Press article, transit advocate Casey Dutmer stated, "We've been working on this with [CCIT] for several years." And now the City of Grand Rapids will be buying some more sidewalks.
"Finally," said Jocelyn Dettloff, Disability Advocates' Development Director, in the piece on WOOD TV. "I can't tell you how many times I have actually seen someone in a wheelchair having to go outside from parking lot to parking lot onto 28th Street just to get around."
"It just makes Grand Rapids a more hospitable community for everyone," Jocelyn was quoted in the Fox 17 piece on the topic.
"So that everyone, including those with mobility challenges as well as anybody walking, can easily access businesses they want to travel to and spend their money," said Dettloff.
But why care about sidewalks when we talk about public transportation?
How else do people get from the bus stop to the front doors of the businesses and other places they are headed?
And based on The Rapid's ridership statistics, 777 people used the 28th Street route every weekday in May of this year. So at least 777 people are walking and rolling to and from bus stops up and down 28th Street each workday. Of course, this number doesn't include the people who get off the bus on a route that intersects 28th Street, say the Division or Kalamazoo routes, and then walk the few blocks to their final destination.
Funny how all the transportation options are connected and impact each other for the good and the bad.
And think what more and better sidewalks could do for our community. Others are doing just that. For instance, people in Detroit are concluding: "Slower traffic, more pedestrians could revive cities." Much of this thought comes from walkability expert, Dan Burden. Every once in a while he shows up in Kent County to bring his message of people scale transportation and the beauty of sidewalks. And on one occasion when I got to hear his presentation, I was greatly impressed by his emphasis on accessibility for all. Got to like that.
Finally, if you're looking for a way to better navigate the sidewalks we have, check out the updated Rapid website. There you will find their brand new set of rider tools. The one to feature is recently launched "nearest bus stop" feature. Type in an address and then watch the magic work! You get the closest ten stops and real time information on when the next bus will arrive at your chosen stop. Practical magic indeed.
And when riding the bus, if you discover other places in our community that need a sidewalk or two, let us know. We'll put that stretch of road on our list and work to get another sidewalk sale to benefit us all.
All for today.
Dave
David Bulkowski, J.D.
Executive Director
Disability Advocates of Kent County
Empowering Independence
3600 Camelot SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 949-1100, ext. 228; dave.b @ dakc.us
Friday, September 11, 2009
August Success Stories
Genesee
Muskegon
Shiawassee
- Issue was resolved regarding a rider who was told he couldn’t ride public transportation without a personal assistant.
Muskegon
- Public Transit provider called a meeting with the goal of putting designated bus stops with signage in the community. The transit provider asked which locations would be the best places to put a bus stop. The current system requires riders to flag down the bus
Shiawassee
- Attended Easter Seals Project ACTION training in Washington, DC and created an action plan for the upcoming year. They were one of 15 groups nationally selected to participate in this training.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Informed Communities on Transportation
There are two informational forums scheduled for September, each focuses on transportation issues. The dates and locations are listed below.
September 16, 2009 - Manistee
September 24, 2009 - Newaygo
For further information, please contact Melinda Haus-Johnson at
Melinda @ prosynergy.org
or 517-333-2477.
September 16, 2009 - Manistee
September 24, 2009 - Newaygo
For further information, please contact Melinda Haus-Johnson at
Melinda @ prosynergy.org
or 517-333-2477.
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