[nfbmi-talk] a g weighs in on airport case

[joe harcz Comcast]

Attorney general encourages resolution in Detroit Metropolitan Airport lawsuit

 

Published: Friday, October 17, 2014

 

By Jackie Harrison-Martin

The News-Herald

 

news/doc54402386728fe349673640

Click to enlarge

 

In a letter to Thomas Naughton, CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority, Attorney General Bill Schuette addressed issues concerning a lawsuit targeting

two parties.

 

The operators of Detroit Metropolitan Airport and the Wayne County Airport Authority are named in the lawsuit alleging a violation of the Americans with

Disabilities Act.

 

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Jason Turkish of Nyman Turkish PC of Southfield on behalf of Michael Harris of Westland, who uses a wheelchair, and Karla

Hudson of East Lansing, who is blind.

 

The Wayne County Airport Authority instituted a change of the drop-off location in September for Detroit Airport customers for the Michigan Flyer and AirRide

buses.

 

 

The location change was from the International Arrivals in the McNamara Terminal to the Grand transportation Center.

 

The move was based on safety concerns.

 

The attorney general said the change has triggered opposition from many within the community with physical disabilities, who argue that the new location

is less safe and imposes an increased burden on them to gain reasonable access to the airport.

 

“Significantly, this change was implemented after the State Transportation Commission officially requested the ‘immediate suspension’ of this revision to

allow public comment before the airport board to address the concerns of those with physical disabilities,” the letter said. “The matter is now a matter

of litigation.”

 

Schuette said he was writing to encourage a way to be found as a resolution that will address the safety problems that have been identified that gave cause

for the change, but also ensure that those with disabilities do not encounter significant barriers to access the public services.

 

He said the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that.

 

The lawsuit said it was discriminatory under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act for the airport to no longer allow public transportation

services to pick up and drop off passengers at the McNamara Terminal.

 

The new access location is hundreds of feet from the former location and presents a hardship for those with disabilities, according to the lawsuit.

 

Under the new policy, those with disabilities have to cross a bridge, go up an escalator and travel some 300 yards to arrive at the Michigan Flyer-AirRide

boarding and drop-off site.

 

Contact Staff Writer Jackie Harrison-Martin at 1-734-246-0837 or

Jackie at heritage.com.

Follow her on Facebook and @JackieMartin22 on Twitter.

 

Source:

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2014/10/17/news/doc54402386728fe349673640.txt?viewmode=fullstory