[Nfbmo] FW: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES ADA SETTLEMENT WITH INTERCITY BUS COMPANY, MEGABUS

[Gary Wunder]

  _____  

From: Outreach , Disability (CRT) [mailto:Disability.Outreach at usdoj.gov] 
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 3:15 PM
To: Basrawi, Mazen (CRT)
Subject: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES ADA SETTLEMENT WITH INTERCITY BUS
COMPANY, MEGABUS



 

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Civil Rights Division

MONDAY, MAY 16, 2011
(202) 514-2007

WWW.JUSTICE.GOV <http://www.justice.gov/>
TDD (202) 514-1888

 

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES ADA SETTLEMENT 

WITH INTERCITY BUS COMPANY, MEGABUS

 

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today announced a comprehensive
settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with
intercity bus service providers Megabus USA LLC., and Megabus Northeast
LLC., which are located in Chicago and Elizabeth, N.J., respectively.  The
Justice Department initiated its investigation of Megabus as part of its
ongoing review of the private transportation industry.  In particular, the
department has been investigating accessibility of private transportation
operations for individuals with disabilities.   

            

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Megabus will ensure that all of
the vehicles in its intercity service are fully accessible to individuals
with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs or other
mobility aids.  Megabus will also alter its online reservation services so
that passengers with disabilities are able to access schedule information
and make reservations in the same manner and using the same reservation
system as other passengers.  Megabus will pay a $55,000 civil penalty to the
United States, and $12,500 in damages to a complainant who was not permitted
to use the ramp on a passenger bus, and who was forced to transfer out of
his wheelchair rather than be secured in the wheelchair, as required by
federal regulations, during his trip from New York, to Baltimore.  The
United States credits Megabus for their cooperation throughout the
investigation and their willingness to address the deficiencies identified.

 

"Commercial passenger buses are an affordable and growing sector of the
transportation industry, and making sure that they are fully accessible to
individuals with disabilities is a necessary part of integrating individuals
with disabilities into all aspects of American life," said Thomas E. Perez,
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.  "The department
is committed to vigorously enforcing the transportation requirements of the
ADA."

 

Title III of the ADA prohibits specified private transportation providers
like Megabus from excluding persons with disabilities, including persons
with mobility impairments, from full and equal enjoyment of the services
provided.   Anyone interested in learning more about federal disability
rights statutes can call the Justice Department's toll-free ADA information
line at 800-514-0301, 800-514-0383 (TTY), or access the ADA website at
www.ada.gov <http://www.ada.gov/> . 

 

###

 

11-625

 

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE.  IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE
CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT
202-514-2007.

 

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.png
Type: image/png
Size: 8866 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110517/f331d52b/attachment.png>