London Underground Limited (LUL) has made a commitment to 'unlock London' by enhancing its existing infrastructure over time where reasonably practical to provide a network accessible to all. Each year over 30 million journeys are made by passengers who are disabled, including those with dexterity, sensory and cognitive impairments. The commitment to making accessibility improvements is complicated by LUL's recent adoption of a unique and unprecedented Public Private Partnership (PPP). After many years of under investing, the PPP was created to generate the necessary investment in LUL's infrastructure. LUL's legal obligation for making accessibility improvements comes from the 1995 UK legislation, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Within this legal framework, LUL must make reasonable adjustments to its network and services to comply with accessibility requirements. For this reason, the PPP Contracts are clear on what our suppliers must provide in terms of structural improvements (particularly step-free access). In other areas, the PPP Contracts leave it to suppliers to decide the methods used to improve accessibility, thus encouraging innovative, economic and efficient solutions. This paper describes an integrated approach that LUL is pursuing to confront these challenges and achieve practical solutions in planning and implementing accessibility improvements successfully. The paper features the research findings which led to this approach and presents actual experience in applying the approach. Recent successes in improving designs and making physical improvements at particular stations are explained to demonstrate practical solutions to real problems. A study of 14 stations in various stages of design and construction showed that often the solutions to improvement of accessibility are not necessarily the most expensive ones. In addition to station specific recommendations for improving access, two key best-practice methods were identified and recommended as an approach for delivering improvements in future works. This paper provides evidence of successful large and small scale practical accessibility improvements made in recently completed projects, such as enhancements to Earl's Court, a station in a historically listed building. In conclusion, the paper offers two best-practice methods of assessing the current environment (access audit) and creating a site specific strategy for improving access (an integrated access statement) as a model approach for the successful planning and delivery of accessibility improvements. For the covering abstract please see ITRD E135207.
Samenvatting