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The next RTA ADA Advisory Committee meeting will be held on April 18, 2011 from 1:30 PM until 3:30 PM in the RTA Board Room. Please contact Michael VanDekreke at (312) 913-3204 (voice), (312) 913-3122 (TTY) or by email at
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if you need an accommodation to attend the meeting at least three (3) business days before the meeting.
On Tuesday, January 18, 2011 the RTA ADA Advisory Committee met. Those in attendance are listed at the end of this memo. This memo is a summary of the items covered.
Welcome and Introductions: All Committee Members and members of the public introduced themselves. All individuals in attendance are listed at the end of the memo.
Reading and Approval of the 10/18/10 Minutes: Ms. Emily Karry made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Mr. Barry Taylor seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Public Comment Request for End of Meeting: Mr. VanDekreke explained the Committee’s public participation procedure and asked if any individuals from the public wanted to make a comment at the end of the meeting. Ms. Heather Armstrong, Ms. Dorothy McKinney, Mr. Garland Armstrong and Mr. Jamal Powell requested to make a public comment.
Service Boards’ ADA Committees Update: Mr. Kevin Irvine, the Chair of the CTA ADA Advisory Committee, gave a report of the current activities of the CTA ADA Advisory Committee. He reported that during their last meeting the Committee discussed a report on elevator/escalator status, received an update on the Infrastructure Accessibility Task Force, discussed the priority seating signage project and discussed enhancements to CTA website. Ms. Saundra Sanders, Chair of the Pace City ADA Advisory Committee, gave a report of the current activities of the Pace City ADA Advisory Committee. She reported that during the last meeting the Committee heard a presentation on the RTA ADA Paratransit Certification Program and discussed the pending Pace “No-Strand Draft Policy”. There was no one in attendance from the Pace Suburban ADA Advisory Committee to give a report. Mr. Barry Taylor requested that if one of the ADA Advisory Committee representatives can not attend the RTA ADA Advisory Committee that they please submit a written report of their Committee’s activities to be read at the meeting. Mr. VanDekreke reported that he would follow up on this request with the Chairs of the other committees. Jim Fereneborg from Metra stated that Metra is planning to schedule the first meeting of the new Metra ADA Advisory Committee before February 4, 2011. He also thanked the members of the Committee who helped disseminate information about the Committee in the effort to recruit new members. Ms. Amber Smock stated that it would be beneficial to the Committee to also get an update during the next RTA ADA Advisory Committee meeting of the budget around ADA programming and any funding issues that are or could affect service. Greg Polman suggested that the Committee also receive legislative updates at meetings that are pertinent to the Committee’s business.
Chairman Report on RTA Activities: Mr. Michael VanDekreke announced that Mr. Joseph G. Costello was appointed as the new RTA Executive Director and read his bio for the Committee Members. In addition Michael reported that all RTA staff recently went through a disability sensitivity and etiquette training provided by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and he thanked Commissioner Karen Tamley for having her staff provide this training. Mr. VanDekreke stated that he will be looking to this committee in the future to help develop a formalized disability awareness training curriculum to be used for RTA staff on an on-going basis. Lastly Mr. VanDekreke stated that he would be checking in with all Committee Members one-on-one before the next RTA ADA Advisory Committee to get feedback on the Committee.
Follow-Up on RTA Accessibility/Universal Design Policy Suggestion from 10/18/10: Mr. VanDekreke reviewed the two policy suggestions on accessibility and universal design standards that the Committee wanted brought to the RTA Board of Directors. He explained that he reviewed these suggestions with key RTA Staff and Staff discussed that we need to do more development of accessibility and universal design standards first before we bring these suggestions to the Board. Michael stated that the RTA Board will want us to have fully thought through these recommendations and have a plan in place before we bring it to them. Michael explained that he will be talking to the RTA Legal Department about these recommendations and he will report back to the Committee as there are developments around these recommendations. Mr. VanDekreke reported that he will be going before the RTA Board during the February Board Meeting to give an update on the progress of the RTA ADA Advisory Committee and he will report back to the Committee on the outcome of that presentation. Ms. Amber Smock asked if the RTA could invite Committee Members to attend the RTA Board Meeting when this update takes place. Mr. VanDekreke reported that he would forward all future RTA Board announcements to the Committee and they are welcome to attend any Board Meeting.
Input on Priority Seating Sign Project: Mr. VanDekreke introduced Rosemary Gerty who gave a presentation on the Priority Seating Sign Project. She explained that the purpose of this project is to develop a consistent sign that would be used in all CTA, Metra and Pace vehicles that would designate the priority seats for people with disabilities and seniors and explain the regional policy on priority seats. The Committee was presented different variations of the signs and was asked to choose their favorite of the options presented. It was explained that after these signs were developed and placed on vehicles, the RTA would come back to the Committee to get recommendations on a marketing campaign to go along with the signs. The intent of these signs is to more clearly mark priority seats and to educate the public on the purpose of such seats in transit vehicles.
RTA Eligibility Review Board Elections Process: Mr. Michael VanDekreke explained that through RTA Board Ordinance, the RTA ADA Advisory Committee is responsible for selecting the members of the Eligibility Review Board (ERB). Michael began by explaining that the ERB is the body that listens to and rules on appeals of ADA paratransit certification decisions. Michael also gave an overview of the ADA paratransit certification appeal process. Michael explained that the RTA ADA Advisory Committee’s role is to nominate individuals that they feel would make good candidates for the ERB, then RTA staff will interview each candidate and make a recommendation back to the committee of individuals that would make good ERB members. The Committee would then vote to elect 4 individuals to serve as ERB members and the remaining would become Third Party Members. Mr. VanDekreke provided nomination forms to the Committee Members and asked them to make Nominations by February 1, 2011. Michael explained that during the April, 2011 meeting the Committee would vote on the ERB members.
Screening of New RTA Travel Training Video: Mr. VanDekreke reminded all of the Committee members that during the October, 2010 meeting the RTA asked the Committee to provide input into the content and accessibility of a new RTA Travel Training Program marketing video that would be used to encourage people with disabilities and seniors to participate in the RTA Travel Training Program and the benefits of using fixed route. Michael announced that the video was completed and he premiered the video for the Committee. Mr. VanDekreke announced that the new video would be played in the waiting rooms of all of the RTA ADA Paratransit Certification Assessment Sites and that it would be on the RTA website. He also stated that the RTA would be discussing other ways this video could be used in marketing efforts to promote fixed route use. Mr. VanDekreke encouraged all Committee Members to promote this video and the RTA Travel Training Program to their agencies’ consumers and other constituents.
Public Comment: Ms. Heather Armstrong stated that she agrees that the priority seating signs should say that priority seats are for people with disabilities and seniors. Ms. Dorothy McKinney commented on the importance of the priority seating project and marking seats for seniors. She also stated that the RTA marketing video for the travel training program should be shown to a lot of people. Mr. Garland Armstrong stated that baby strollers are a problem on buses because they take the space that is reserved for seniors and people with disabilities. Garland stated that we need to have a promotional video encouraging people to fold up baby strollers. Mr. Jamal Powell stated that he was happy with the meeting and the RTA Travel Training video and priority seating sign projects. He also stated that more education for young riders is needed on priority seating. Kevin Irvine stated that he CTA ADA Advisory Committee is looking at the baby stroller issue and will hopefully revisit the CTA’s policy on baby strollers after some initial research is completed.
Adjournment: Ms. Pam Heavens made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Emily Karry seconded the motion. The committee voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
In Attendance:
Voting Committee Members
Bob Griffin
Pam Heavens
Emily Karry
Lynn O’Shea
Amber Smock
Greg Polman as alternate for Dr. Janet Szlyk
Barry Taylor
Non-Voting Committee Members
May Beth Clark
Jim Ferneborg
Kevin Irvine
Cara Levinson
Sandra Saunders via phone
Commissioner Karen Tamley
Michael VanDekreke
Other RTA and Service Board Staff:
Anne LeFevre, RTA
Rosemary Gerty, RTA
Public:
Heather Armstrong
Garland Armstrong
Jim Watkins
Jamal Powell
Dorothy McKinney
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