[Massachusetts-NFB] FYI FW: Advancing Accessibility: MBTA Honors 35 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Thu Jul 31 14:26:48 UTC 2025

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Dear Riders,
Thank you for taking some time to read our July newsletter. The MBTA joined the City of Boston & BCIL on Wednesday, July 23^rd to honor the 35^th Anniversary of the ADA. At the MBTA, we honor the commitment to creating 100% accessible T 365 days a year! Read more below.

** Honoring the 35 Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
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GM Eng and T staff gather at City Hall Plaza for ADA 35

The MBTA & MassDOT proudly celebrates the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, on Wednesday, July 23rd, joined advocates, members of the community, and legislators at the ADA 35 Rally and March led by the City of Boston and the Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL). The rally and march took place in support of disability rights.

“The Healey-Driscoll administration is committed to providing high quality access to jobs, housing, health care, transportation, and all other elements necessary for a high quality of life,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “The Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary is cause for celebration – the landmark legislation has physically and literally opened doors for millions of people. Accessible transportation is about fairness and equity, and when everyone can travel, our residents have the world opened to them.”

Every day, the MBTA honors the spirit of the ADA by working to make all aspects of its system and transit service easier for people with disabilities and older adults to use. By investing in accessibility, the MBTA advances a more modernized, human-centered system that benefits all riders, including parents and caregivers traveling with strollers, veterans, those with temporary injuries, and visitors to the system. With a focus on providing inclusive service for all riders, the MBTA continues to make important progress, aiming to be a national leader in accessible public transit. When the ADA was passed in 1990, only 22% of MBTA stations were accessible – today, nearly 85% of stations are accessible, and by 2030, the MBTA is on track to reach nearly 95% accessibility at stations.

“Accessibility is essential to quality of life and the ability to enjoy all that life has to offer. This ADA 35 event is a reminder that there is more to do. With a focus on accessibility as we rebuild our infrastructure, the MBTA is committed to doing our part to make sure all who want or need to use public transportation can do so,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “I’d like to thank Laura Brelsford, Assistant GM for Systemwide Accessibility, for her leadership, our entire workforce, and our partnership with advocates and stakeholders that helps drive this progress to date and the work that lies ahead in making our system fully accessible across all modes.”

T staff participating in ADA 35 March

** Milestones and Major Infrastructure Upgrades
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This year alone, 10 stations – four on the Green Line D branch as well as Wellesley Square (https://www.mbta.com/projects/accessibility-improvements/update/major-accessibility-upgrades-wellesley-square-commuter) , West Medford, Franklin, Walpole (https://www.mbta.com/projects/accessibility-improvements/update/franklin-west-medford-and-walpole-stations-now) , North Wilmington (https://www.mbta.com/projects/accessibility-improvements/update/mbta-opens-new-fully-accessible-north-wilmington-station) , and Winchester Center (https://www.mbta.com/news/2025-07-16/mbta-celebrates-renovated-fully-accessible-winchester-center-commuter-rail-station)  – have benefited from major accessibility upgrades with an eleventh – Natick Center – slated for completion in August 2025, and 30 more to come over the next five years.

Across the system, over 400 bus stops have also been completely rebuilt over the last five years to improve accessibility with 40 more stops planned to be upgraded this year. The MBTA bus fleet is 100% accessible, the new Red and Orange Line cars are the MBTA’s most accessible subway vehicles in the system’s history, and the upcoming Type 10 Green Line “supercar” includes a 100% low-floor design with a modern public information system.
At Downtown Crossing, a major accessibility project is underway to install two new elevators, which will create the MBTA’s first fully accessible connection between the Red and Orange lines – a major milestone for riders.

These improvements would not be possible without the work and advocacy of the Daniels-Finegold plaintiffs and the 2006 MBTA/Daniels-Finegold Settlement Agreement (https://www.mbta.com/accessibility/history) , which called for sweeping accessibility improvements across the Authority. The MBTA strives to go above and beyond the terms of the Agreement with every improvement a result of a strong partnership between the plaintiffs, Greater Boston Legal Services, MBTA, and Judge Patrick King who serves as the settlement’s independent monitor.

“The anniversary of the ADA is a great opportunity to reflect on both how far we’ve come, and how far we have to go. In looking back on the progress we’ve made towards making the system fully accessible, by far and away the most impactful change has been an embracing of the understanding that the perspectives and insights of disabled people matter,” said Laura Brelsford, MBTA Assistant General Manager, System-Wide Accessibility. “By ensuring people with disabilities, both employees as well as riders, have a seat at the decision-making table we are best positioned to make lasting positive change that benefits all. That has been, and will continue to be, the secret to our success.”

ADA 35 participants at the Rally and March

Advancing Accessibility Through Innovation and Engagement The MBTA’s dedication to accessible transit includes other key projects like advancing hands-free fare gates, making it easier for riders who are blind or low-vision to navigate the system with wayfinding technology, and scaling up, updating, and refreshing accessibility training for the front-line workforce. The MBTA continues to launch technology improvements, like improved information in the fully accessible MBTA Go mobile app.

For customers who are not able to use the fixed route system some or all of the time due to their disability, the RIDE remains a critical service. The RIDE will soon launch a new transit management software, bringing improvements to routing efficiency and a fully revamped customer experience, featuring online and app-based trip booking and management. This new application will allow customers to track their trips in real time, customize their notifications, and have more self-service options than ever before.

Engagement with riders is critical to these efforts – the MBTA’s System-Wide Accessibility Department and the Mobility Center joined 50 outreach events this year, and the MBTA has a close and collaborative relationship with its Riders’ Transportation Access Group (RTAG) (https://www.mbta.com/accessibility/get-involved/rtag) . Riders who have a question or concern regarding accessibility are encouraged to reach out at mbta.com/customer-support (https://www.mbta.com/customer-support)  and consider joining RTAG to help shape the future of accessibility at the T.
GM Eng and T staff during ADA 35 at the Embrace Monument in Boston Common View a video of the ADA 35 March and Rally below:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/P5mr1cufRp0?feature=oembed

System-Wide Accessibility Presents to the MBTA Board of Directors

Additionally, Laura Brelsford, Assistant General Manager for System-Wide Accessibility, had the opportunity to present to the MBTA Board of Directors on Thursday, July 24^th to recognize the anniversary of the ADA. The presentation included update on recent accessibility gains as well as upcoming improvements. You can watch the presentation here starting (https://www.mbta.com/events/2025-07-24/board-meeting-mbta-board-directors) at the one hour and 30 minute mark.

To learn more about accessibility at the MBTA, visit: mbta.com/accessibility (https://www.mbta.com/accessibility)

Safe & Accessible Travels,
The Department of System-Wide Accessibility Subscribe (https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=5929ae2e24&u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932)

** Find Out how the MBTA Mobility Center can Help You
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The Mobility Center, located in Boston at 1000 Massachusetts Ave (https://www.mbta.com/trip-planner/to/42.3284373,-71.0675113,The%20Mobility%20Center) , is available to anyone looking to explore accessible transit options and other community transport resources. Give us a call at 617-337-2727 (tel: 617-337-2727) .

Send Us Your Feedback

We want to hear from you! To share your concerns, questions, or positive experiences with us, please visit mbta.com/customer-support (http://www.mbta.com/customer-support) or call Customer Service at 617-222-3200 (TTY: 617-222-5146).

MBTA.com/alerts has information about current, ongoing, and future service disruptions.

** Learn More about Accessibility at the MBTA
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We have numerous efforts underway to improve accessibility at the MBTA. Visit mbta.com/accessibility (http://www.mbta.com/accessibility) to learn more.

** Get Involved with the Riders’ Transportation Access Group
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The Riders’ Transportation Access Group (RTAG) is a customer organization that advises the MBTA on issues of transportation and accessibility. Membership is open to the general public. To learn more, click the link below or attend an upcoming RTAG meeting.

Learn about RTAG (https://www.mbta.com/accessibility/get-involved/rtag)

Check Service Alerts

MBTA.com/alerts (http://www.mbta.com/alerts/) has information about current, ongoing and future service disruptions including bus stop closures (https://www.mbta.com/alerts/bus) and detours.

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