United Spinal Association Settles Suit with MTA Regarding Accessibility at a Subway Station

NEW YORK, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It was announced today that the MTA has agreed to the installation of an elevator at the Dyckman Street subway station.  The agreement was the product of settlement of litigation between United Spinal Association -- represented by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) -- the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA).

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In the settlement, the MTA commits to installing an elevator at the elevated southbound platform of the Dyckman Street Station, which will enable people who use wheelchairs, among others, to get on and off southbound #1 trains.  

When stations are renovated, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides that a portion of the renovation costs be spent on accessibility.

"Installing elevators during scheduled station renovations goes far to promote transportation access for people who use wheelchairs.  This is a significant resolution that will enhance subway access for all users of the station with mobility challenges," said James Weisman, SVP & General Counsel of United Spinal Association.

"More mass transit access decreases the demand for Access-A-Ride, MTA's expensive alternative," he added.

The class action suit was brought by United Spinal Association, whose members live with physical disabilities due to spinal cord injuries and disorders. The plaintiffs were represented by Disability Rights Advocates ("DRA"), a non-profit disability rights legal center headquartered in Berkeley, California that specializes in high-impact cases on behalf of people with disabilities.

"We want to commend the MTA for working with us to improve accessibility for our clients who use wheelchairs, particularly as transportation options for the disabled in New York City are scarce," said Plaintiffs' attorney Julia Pinover of Disability Rights Advocates.

"The settlement will truly benefit everyone in the community.  In addition to accessibility for people using wheelchairs, an elevator will also provide vital transport access for people who have age or injury related mobility impairments, people carrying unwieldy bags, and caregivers with strollers," she added.

Access for people with disabilities is especially important in Inwood, where the Dyckman Street Station is located, because the 2000 U.S. Census showed that 25.1% of residents in the ZIP Code covering that station self-identified as having a disability, 5.8 percentage points higher than the rate of disability in the population as a whole.  

Of the 468 subway stations in New York City, only 86, or 18.5%, are currently fully accessible to people with disabilities.  According to United Spinal Association and its attorneys, making accessible improvements incrementally during station renovations, will keep the MTA compliant with the ADA requirements.

About United Spinal Association

United Spinal is a national 501(c) (3) nonprofit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS and post-polio. It played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Membership is free and is open to all individuals with SCI/D. United Spinal was instrumental in getting New York City to create sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation that has been used as a model for many United States cities.

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Jim Weisman

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SOURCE United Spinal Association