The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) extended antidiscrimination measures to an estimated 43 million Americans. Members of the transportation community had anticipated dire consequences, including protracted litigation. While litigation may not have reached anticipated intensity, program administrators have had to deal with a number of compliance issues. The Transit Cooperative Research Program Legal Studies committee members believe that compliance would be improved if there is better understanding of the ADA requirements. The objective of the study was to produce a legal research digest that reports on a review of applicable statutes, a survey of state and local transit providers, and an analysis of developments pertaining to employment infrastructure and service requirements. Hopefully, this report will help transit operators better understand ADA requirements and, thereby, enhance compliance. The report should be helpful to administrators, attorneys, financial officials, human resources personnel, and planners in public transportation. The contents of this digest are presented in the following sections: (I) Introduction; (II) Before the ADA; (III) Definition of Disability; (IV) Title I of the ADA - Employment; (V) Title II of the ADA - Public Services; (VI) Title III of the ADA - Public Accommodations and Services Operated by Private Entities; (VII) Miscellaneous Provisions of the ADA; (VIII) Survey Regarding the Impact of the ADA on Transit Agencies Nationwide (Report attached as Appendix A); and (IX) Conclusion. See also http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_lrd_23.pdf
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