[Massachusetts-NFB] FW: Reporting snow obstructions, exciting RTAG news, and other Accessibility Updates from the MBTA

Thu Feb 26 00:35:08 UTC 2026

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Dear Riders,

We hope this email finds you well. Thank you for taking some time to read our February newsletter. Read on to learn more about:
* Reporting Snow and Ice Barriers at Bus stops and Stations
* Upcoming Changes at RTAG and General Meeting in March (Hybrid)
* Free Tax Preparation Assistance for Boston Residents
* RMV Unveils Redesigned Disability Placard

** Reporting Snow and Ice Barriers at Bus stops and Stations
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a bus driving down a snowy street with cars parked along the sidewalk.

Winter weather in New England bring inevitable travel headaches. But for people with disabilities and older adults, uncleared snow and ice isn't just an inconvenience, it's a barrier to safe and accessible mobility, including at bus, subway, and Commuter Rail stops and stations on the MBTA.

Riders attempting to access those stops and stations in the wake of this season’s first two major storms have reported frustrating experiences at various locations across the system, highlighting the importance of solid snow removal protocols, consistent oversight and close coordination with municipalities.

While we continue to dig out from this most recent storm, please know all complaints and feedback are being taken seriously. Throughout the winter, SWA will continue to conduct monitoring of uncleared snow or ice through our Internal Access Monitoring program, as well as through spot checks at high priority and/or frequently reported locations on the system. Problems will be immediately reported and tracked for resolution.

What does a clear stop or station look like?
At a minimum, a 5 ft wide by 8 ft deep area located near the front bus stop sign (or bus shelter if a shelter is present) must be cleared. Additionally, a 3 ft wide path from this area through any snow that has piled up between the roadway and edge of sidewalk (often referred to as the snow berm) must be cleared. This allows a Bus Operator space to deploy the ramp from the front door of the bus. Finally, every effort should be made to connect the cleared area to the adjacent sidewalk/curb ramps.

Who’s responsible for clearing stops and stations?
The MBTA is responsible for:
* Clearing snow and ice from all subway and Commuter Rail stations
* Clearing snow and ice from stops on 22 high frequency routes (https://www.mbta.com/winter-bus#report) and the Silver Line within 24 hours after snowfall ends.
* To report uncleared snow at an MBTA-owned stop or station, visit Customer Support online (https://www.mbta.com/customer-support)  or call 617-222-3200 / 711 for TTY callers; VRS for ASL callers. When making a report, be sure to mention if it is resulting in an accessibility barrier for you.

All other bus stops are the responsibility of the municipalities and/or property owners where the stop is located. Learn where to report uncleared snow and ice (https://www.mbta.com/winter-bus#report) .

For more information:
Read the Winter Weather Travel Guide (https://www.mbta.com/winter-weather)
Stay Informed About Winter Weather (https://www.mbta.com/winter-weather)

** Upcoming Changes at RTAG and General Meeting in March (Hybrid)
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collage of previous RTAG meetings, showing speakers & advocates. Also, the RTAG logo.

Thanks to the signing of the Next Generation Accessibility Agreement between the MBTA and Boston Center for Independent Living, RTAG’s role will be growing! In addition to serving as the MBTA’s official advisory committee on matters related to people with disabilities and older adults, RTAG will be responsible for monitoring the MBTA’s compliance with the new agreement and being the organizing force behind transportation-related advocacy.

New staff will be joining the RTAG team beginning in March and a number of discussions are underway regarding improving meeting formats and community engagement. Please join our next meeting in March, either in person or virtually, to learn more!

When? March 25, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Where?
* Join us in person: MBTA Boardroom, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, 2^nd floor MA 02116

* Join us virtually via Zoom

Register in advance for the RTAG virtual meeting. (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/i-9xAGZVQH-xVH_l12GLYA)

All RTAG meetings are accessible to people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency. Real-time captioning (CART) and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter will be provided for this meeting. Other accessibility accommodations and language services will be provided free of charge upon request, as available.

To request reasonable accommodation or language services, please email rtagboston at bostoncil.org (mailto:rtagboston at bostoncil.org)  or call Kat at 978-893-8100 at least two weeks before the meeting.

Sign up for the RTAG newsletter (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=19f1256a5c&e=ebb95b8df1__;!!MEHzkw!zpdLg-wZzh-ZsW4PnIyXfIAIkhNCombk55HClu09usFGnLWqK80uPBgY53rKViWK3QpI2q_iKJqho1Tbjv8$) .

Attention Boston Residents - Need Help with Your Taxes?
The Boston Tax Help Coalition’s mission is to broaden pathways from poverty to financial empowerment. It does this by maximizing the impact of tax credits through:
* free tax preparation
* financial education
* economic stability opportunities

Taxpayers with Disabilities
The Boston Tax Help Coalition has been a national leader in the integration of free tax preparation with the needs of the disability community since 2005. At that time, the Coalition joined with the National Disability Institute (NDI) to expand tax and asset building services to taxpayers with disabilities. It was through this partnership that the Coalition’s "Disability Initiative" was born. This effort has, as its goal, an integrated and inclusive outreach, service delivery and leadership development strategy for taxpayers with disabilities and their advocates throughout the Boston campaign. As of 2017, 13.6% of our taxpayers report a disability. But, based on the national estimates, many more taxpayers with disabilities do not know about these opportunities, are misinformed, and are not accessing these services.

Learn more about how the Boston Tax Coalition can assist (https://www.boston.gov/departments/center-working-families/worker-empowerment/boston-tax-help-coalition)

RMV Unveils Redesigned Disability Placard New placard. Front features the International Symbol of Access and expiration. Back says non-transferable with fines, and image of user The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has introduced a newly redesigned Disability Placard, created to improve security, curb fraud, and expedite delivery. Current placards will remain valid until their expiration date.

The updated placard features several key improvements:
* A modern design incorporating the widely accepted universal accessibility logo
* Durable material embedded with security features to deter fraud
* Bilingual instructions in both English and Spanish

While the disability placards feature a new design, the application process, certification requirements, and parking benefits have not changed, and the placard remains valid for the time it is medically necessary. Residents will continue to provide medical certification of health condition(s) with their application. Once approved, residents will be able to park in designated accessible parking spaces and meters without paying fees or penalties when displaying the placard until such time as it is no longer medically necessary.
Read more about the redesigned placard. (https://www.mass.gov/news/rmv-unveils-redesigned-disability-placard-to-improve-efficiency-0)

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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