,,ii  #aahth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #ahac  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,june #f1      
#bjbc,mr4 ,menendez introduced the      
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on          
,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation
  ,a ,,bill  ,to increase accessible    
transportation for individuals with     
disabilities4  #a4 ,short title ,this   
,act may be cited as the ,disability    
,access to ,transportation ,act4  #b4   
,findings ,congress finds the following3
 7#a7 ,according to the ,centers for    
,disease ,control and ,prevention1 #a in
 #d adults in the ,united ,states has a 
disability4  7#b7 ,section #b of the    
,americans with ,disabilities ,act of   
#aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja7 recognized 
that individuals with disabilities face 
discrimination when using transportation
 services and that ,act sought to       
provide a clear and comprehensive       
national mandate for the elimination of 
discrimination against individuals with 

disabilities4  7#c7 #cb years after the 
enactment of the ,americans with        
,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 individuals  
with disabilities continue to face      
systemic discrimination and a lack of   
accessible transportation options4  7#d7
 ,transportation is a core component of 
independent living1 and without the     
ability to easily move from one location
 to another1 especially to drop a child 
off at day care1 arrive at work on time1
 or run basic errands1 true community   
living is impossible4  7#e7 ,technology 
is changing the way the transportation  
industry provides services4  7#f7 ,as   
technology continues to change the way  
people move from one place to another1  
the transportation sector1 including    
,federal agencies1 local transit        
systems1 and private entities1 must     
innovate and provide services in a way  
that empowers individuals with          
disabilities to travel independently in 
their communities4  #c4 ,one-stop       

paratransit pilot program  7a7 ,in      
general ,not later than #f months after 
the date of enactment of this ,act1 the 
,secretary shall establish a one-stop   
paratransit pilot program 7referred to  
in this section as the pilot program74  
7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the pilot  
program is to develop or expand         
paratransit programs carried out        
pursuant to the ,,ada to provide for #a 
stop of at least #ae minutes outside of 
the vehicle during a paratransit trip to
 prevent long wait times between        
multiple trips that unduly limit an     
individual's ability to complete        
essential tasks4  7c7 ,eligible entities
  7#a7 ,in general ,an entity eligible  
to participate in the pilot program is a
 transit agency that agrees to track and
 share information as the ,secretary    
requires1 including-- 7,a7 the number of
 ,,ada paratransit trips conducted each 
year2  7,b7 the requested time of each  
paratransit trip2  7,c7 the scheduled   
time of each paratransit trip2  7,d7 the

 actual pickup time for each paratransit
 trip2  7,e7 the average length of a    
stop in the middle of a ride as allowed 
by this section2  7,f7 any complaints   
received by a paratransit rider2  7,g7  
rider satisfaction with paratransit     
services2 and  7,h7 after the completion
 of the pilot program1 an assessment by 
the eligible entity of its capacity to  
continue a one-stop program             
independently4  7#b7 ,preference ,the   
,secretary shall give preference to     
entities that-- 7,a7 have comparable    
data for the year prior to              
implementation of the pilot program that
 can be used by the ,secretary and other
 organizations1 such as nonprofit       
organizations and advocacy              
organizations1 for research purposes2   
and  7,b7 plan to use agency personnel  
to implement the pilot program4  7d7    
,application ,to be eligible to         
participate in the pilot program1 an    
eligible entity shall submit to the     
,secretary an application at such time1 

in such manner1 and containing such     
information as the ,secretary may       
require1 including information on-- 7#a7
 locations the eligible entity intends  
to allow a stop at1 if stops are        
limited1 including-- 7,a7 childcare or  
education facilities2  7,b7 pharmacies2 
7,c7 grocery stores2 and  7,d7 bank or  
,,atm locations2  7#b7 methodology for  
informing the public of the pilot       
program2  7#c7 vehicles1 personnel1 and 
other resources that will be used to    
implement the pilot program2 and  7#d7  
if the applicant does not intend the    
pilot program to apply to the full area 
under the jurisdiction of the applicant1
 a description of the geographic area in
 which the applicant intends the pilot  
program to apply4  7e7 ,selection ,the  
,secretary shall seek to achieve        
diversity of participants in the pilot  
program by selecting a range of eligible
 entities that includes at least #e of  
each of the following3 7#a7 ,an eligible
 entity that serves an area with a      

population of #bjj1jjj people or fewer4 
7#b7 ,an eligible entity that serves an 
area with a population of over #bjj1jjj 
people4  7#c7 ,an eligible entity that  
provides transportation for rural       
communities4  7f7 ,report ,not later    
than #c months after the conclusion of  
the first #ae pilot projects carried out
 under this section1 the ,secretary     
shall submit to ,congress a report on   
the results of the pilot program1       
including the feasibility of developing 
and implementing one-stop programs for  
all ,,ada paratransit services4  7g7    
,funding  7#a7 ,federal share ,the      
,federal share of the total cost of a   
project carried out under this section  
may not exceed #hj percent4  7#b7       
,authorization of appropriations ,there 
are authorized to be appropriated to    
carry out this section #ge1jjj1jjj for  
each of fiscal years #bjbc through      
#bjbg4  #d4 ,pedestrian facilities in   
the public right-of-way  7a7 ,in general
 ,not later than #ahj days after the    

date of enactment of this ,act1 the     
,architectural and ,transportation      
,barriers ,compliance ,board1 pursuant  
to section #ejb7;b77#c7 of the          
,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi      
,u4,s4,c4 #gib7;b77#c771 shall publish  
final accessibility guidelines setting  
forth minimum standards for pedestrian  
facilities in the public right-of-way1  
including shared use paths4  7b7        
,adoption of regulations ,not later than
 #ahj days after the establishment of   
the guidelines pursuant to subsection   
7a71 the ,secretary shall issue such    
regulations as are necessary to adopt   
such guidelines4  #e4 ,reporting        
accessibility complaints  7a7 ,in       
general ,the ,secretary shall ensure    
that an individual who believes that he 
or she or a specific class of           
individuals has been subjected to       
discrimination on the basis of          
disability by a public entity may1 by   
himself or herself or by an authorized  
representative1 easily file a complaint 

with the ,department4  7b7 ,procedures  
,not later than #a year after the date  
of enactment of this ,act1 the          
,secretary shall implement procedures   
that allow an individual to submit a    
complaint described in subsection 7a7 by
 phone1 by mail-in form1 and online     
through the website of the ,office of   
,civil ,rights of the ,federal ,transit 
,administration4  7c7 ,notice to        
individuals with disabilities ,not later
 than #ah months after the date of      
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
shall require that each public transit  
provider and contractor providing       
paratransit services shall include on a 
publicly available website of the       
service provider1 any related mobile    
device application1 and any related     
online service-- 7#a7 the telephone     
number1 or a comparable electronic means
 of communication1 for the disability   
assistance hotline of the ,office of    
,civil ,rights of the ,federal ,transit 
,administration2  7#b7 notice that a    

consumer can file a disability-related  
complaint with the ,office of ,civil    
,rights of the ,federal ,transit        
,administration2  7#c7 an active link to
 the website of the ,office of ,civil   
,rights of the ,federal ,transit        
,administration for an individual to    
file a disability-related complaint2 and
  7#d7 notice that an individual can    
file a disability-related complaint with
 the local transit agency and the       
process and any timelines for filing    
such a complaint4  7d7 ,investigation of
 complaints ,not later than #fj days    
after the last day of each fiscal year1 
the ,secretary shall publish a report   
that lists the disposition of complaints
 described in subsection 7a71           
including-- 7#a7 the number and type of 
complaints filed with the ,department2  
7#b7 the number of complaints           
investigated by the ,department2  7#c7  
the result of the complaints that were  
investigated by the ,department1        
including whether the complaint was     

resolved-- 7,a7 informally2  7,b7 by    
issuing a violation through a           
noncompliance ,letter of ,findings2 or  
7,c7 by other means1 which shall be     
described in detail2 and  7#d7 if a     
violation was issued for a complaint1   
whether the ,department resolved the    
noncompliance by-- 7,a7 reaching a      
voluntary compliance agreement with the 
entity2  7,b7 referring the matter to   
the ,attorney ,general2 or  7,c7 other  
means1 which shall be described in      
detail4  7e7 ,report ,upon              
implementation of this section1 the     
,secretary shall1 to the extent         
practicable1 issue a report composed of 
the information collected under this    
section for the preceding #e years4  #f4
 ,accessibility data pilot program  7a7 
,in general ,not later than #a year     
after the date of enactment of this     
,act1 the ,secretary shall establish an 
accessibility data pilot program        
7referred to in this section as the     
pilot program74  7b7 ,purpose ,in       

carrying out the pilot program1 the     
,secretary shall develop or procure an  
accessibility data set and make that    
data set available to each eligible     
entity selected to participate in the   
pilot program to improve the            
transportation planning of such eligible
 entities by-- 7#a7 measuring the level 
of access by multiple transportation    
modes1 including transportation network 
companies1 to important destinations1   
which may include-- 7,a7 jobs1 including
 areas with a concentration of available
 jobs2  7,b7 health care facilities2    
7,c7 child care services2  7,d7         
educational and workforce training      
facilities2  7,e7 affordable housing2   
7,f7 food sources2 and  7,g7 connections
 between modes1 including connections   
to-- 7i7 high-quality transit or rail   
service2  7ii7 safe bicycling corridors2
 and  7iii7 safe sidewalks that achieve 
compliance with applicable requirements 
of the ,,ada2  7#b7 disaggregating the  
level of access by multiple             

transportation modes by a variety of    
population categories1 which shall      
include-- 7,a7 low-income populations2  
7,b7 minority populations2  7,c7 age2   
7,d7 disability1 such as sensory1       
cognitive1 and physical disability1     
including wheelchair users2 and  7,e7   
geographical location2 and  7#c7        
assessing the change in accessibility   
that would result from new              
transportation investments4  7c7        
,eligible entities ,an entity eligible  
to participate in the pilot program is--
 7#a7 a ,state2  7#b7 a metropolitan    
planning organization2 or  7#c7 a rural 
transportation planning organization4   
7d7 ,application ,to be eligible to     
participate in the pilot program1 an    
entity shall submit to the ,secretary an
 application at such time1 in such      
manner1 and containing such information 
as the ,secretary may require1 including
 information relating to-- 7#a7 previous
 experience of the eligible entity      
measuring transportation access or other

 performance management experience2     
7#b7 the types of important destinations
 to which the eligible entity intends to
 measure access2  7#c7 the types of data
 disaggregation the eligible entity     
intends to pursue2  7#d7 a general      
description of the methodology the      
eligible entity intends to apply2 and   
7#e7 if the applicant does not intend   
the pilot program to apply to the full  
area under the jurisdiction of the      
applicant1 a description of the         
geographic area in which the applicant  
intends the pilot program to apply4  7e7
 ,selection  7#a7 ,in general ,the      
,secretary shall seek to achieve        
diversity of participants in the pilot  
program by selecting a range of eligible
 entities that shall include-- 7,a7     
,states2  7,b7 metropolitan planning    
organizations that serve an area with a 
population of #bjj1jjj people or fewer2 
7,c7 metropolitan planning organizations
 that serve an area with a population of
 over #bjj1jjj people2 and  7,d7 rural  

transportation planning organizations4  
7#b7 ,inclusions ,the ,secretary shall  
seek to ensure that1 among the eligible 
entities selected under paragraph 7#a71 
program participants represent-- 7,a7 a 
range of capacity and previous          
experience with measuring transportation
 access2 and  7,b7 a variety of proposed
 methodologies and focus areas for      
measuring level of access4  7f7 ,duties 
,for each eligible entity participating 
in the pilot program1 the ,secretary    
shall-- 7#a7 develop or acquire an      
accessibility data set described in     
subsection 7b72 and  7#b7 submit the    
data set to the eligible entity4  7g7   
,methodology ,in calculating the        
measures for the data set under the     
pilot program1 the ,secretary shall     
ensure that methodology is open source4 
7h7 ,availability ,the ,secretary shall 
make an accessibility data set under the
 pilot program available to-- 7#a7 units
 of local government within the         
jurisdiction of the eligible entity     

participating in the pilot program2 and 
7#b7 researchers4  7i7 ,report ,not     
later than #abj days after the last date
 on which the ,secretary submits data   
sets to the eligible entity under       
subsection 7f71 the ,secretary shall    
submit to ,congress a report on the     
results of the pilot program1 including 
the feasibility of developing and       
providing periodic accessibility data   
sets for all ,states1 regions1 and      
localities4  7j7 ,funding ,the          
,secretary shall carry out the pilot    
program using amounts made available to 
the ,secretary for administrative       
expenses to carry out programs under the
 authority of the ,secretary4  7k7      
,sunset ,the pilot program shall        
terminate on the date that is #h years  
after the date on which the pilot       
program is implemented4  #g4            
,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,,ada  
,the term ,,ada means the ,americans    
with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db   
,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq474  7#b7        

,department ,the term ,department means 
the ,department of ,transportation4     
7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary    
means the ,secretary of ,transportation4
  7#d7 ,state ,the term ,state means    
each of the several ,states1 the        
,district of ,columbia1 and any         
commonwealth1 territory1 or possession  
of the ,united ,states4  7#e7           
,transportation network company  7,a7   
,in general ,the term transportation    
network company means a corporation1    
partnership1 sole proprietorship1 or    
other entity that uses an online-enabled
 application or digital network to      
connect riders to drivers affiliated    
with the entity in order for the driver 
to transport the rider using a vehicle  
owned1 leased1 or otherwise authorized  
for use by the driver to a point chosen 
by the rider4  7,b7 ,exclusions ,the    
term transportation network company does
 not include a shared-expense carpool or
 vanpool arrangement that is not        
intended to generate profit for the     

driver4