This document summarizes a presentation about a project called AAAIM that involved persons with disabilities in transportation planning in Austin. The project was prompted by proposed changes to paratransit services and research on bus stop accessibility. Partners involved in AAAIM included the local transit agency and city. Through surveys and site assessments, the project identified challenges at bus stops and prioritized them. Recommendations from assessment teams were considered in transportation planning, services, and budgeting. The project resulted in improvements to accessibility and connections in the community. The key lesson was to value participants, not just participation.

1. Taking AAAIM: Involving Persons with Disabilities in
Transportation Planning, Implementation, and Investments
Presented by Sheila Holbrook-White
Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

2. 2
Taking AAAIM
Presentation Overview
AAAIM: Austin Accessibility Assessment IMprovement
n What prompted our PTPP proposal?
n Who we worked with?
n What we did and how it worked out?
n What are the take-aways for public participation?

3. 3
Taking AAAIM
Genesis, Broader Applicability
n Local:
Capital Metro’s proposed paratransit service changes (2008)
n National:
TCRP Legal Research Digest 24:Transit Bus Stops: Ownership,
Liability,and Access (March 2008)

4. 4

5. 5
Taking AAAIM
Partners
2007 Board Directive
Increase Passenger Options
Improve Customer Service
Increase Regional Options
ADA Transition Plan
City Sidewalk Master Plan
Prioritize Improvement
Increase Mobility Options

6. 6
Taking AAAIM
1. Identify the challenges
n Objective:
n General: To understand customer service issues
n Specific: To identify challenge sites
Tools:
n Phone/VRS survey in English and Spanish to 10% of DFC customers
n Modified version of TCRP Report 46,Part 2 Survey
n Objective:
n Sort and locate the challenge sites
Tools:
n Use Google Maps to locate sites
n Prioritize sites using CapMetro Boarding Data
n Reference City’s Sidewalk Master Plan Ratings as a way to prioritize

7. 7
Taking AAAIM
2. Assess Sites, Recommend Improvements

8. 8
Assessment Teams Recommendations
By Frequency

9. 9
Taking AAAIM
3. Collaborate: Connection to Planning, Service,
and Investment
• Ensuring schedule/passenger information: 30 stops
• Completing site evaluations: 22 stops
• Policy discussions prompted: 2
• FY2010 Bus Stop Improvement Line Item: $1.5M

10. 10
Taking AAAIM
3. Collaborate: Accessible Community
Connections
• Improvements completed: 1
• Recommended improvements in the funding queue: 2
• Recommended improvements scheduled for future completion: 13
• Recommended improvements in the City’s Draft Strategic Mobility Plan: 14

11. 11

12. 12

13. 13
Value participants, not “participation.”
Taking AAAIM
Lessons Learned