Disability advocates criticize Amtrak for lack of station accessibility

{mosads}The barriers the NDRN said it found included stairways that were not accompanied by ramps or elevators, restrooms that were too narrow and ticket counters that were too high for passengers with wheelchairs, and platforms that are not level with trains.

The group also said it also found stations that did not have visual displays for deaf passengers who are unable to hear audio announcements.
Amtrak responded to the criticism Thursday by arguing that it is improving the accessibility of its stations.

The company said on the anniversary of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July that it had boosted the accessibility of 200 of its stations.
“Passengers with disabilities represent a large and growing share of Amtrak ridership and we are proud of our role as an important means of transportation providing for independent and dignified travel,” said Amtrak CEO Joe Boardman said in a statement in July. “However, we are not satisfied with our pace of progress on accessibility issues at the stations we serve.”

Amtrak pointed out in its ADA anniversary release that it does not own the majority of its more 500 stations that have to be brought into compliance with the accessibility.

Outside of the Northeast U.S., many of Amtrak’s trains run on tracks that are owned by freight and other rail companies.

An Amtrak spokesman told The Hill in an email Thursday that Amtrak owns 14 percent of its stations, while 22 percent are controlled by other railroads, 12 percent are owned by transit agencies and state transportation departments, and the rest are owned by private individuals or redevelopment agencies.

The NDRN said Thursday that it reviewed Amtrak stations in Alabama, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana,
Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey,
New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina,
Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.