The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) joins the more than 37 million Americans with disabilities in celebrating the 24th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities in public accommodations, commercial facilities, employment, transportation, state and local government service and communications. Over the past few years, the RTA has awarded federal dollars to the CTA, Metra and Pace to fund a variety of accessibility features in the region’s transit system. Highlights include:

• The RTA awarded federal funds to the City of Chicago to reimburse taxicab companies for the cost of purchasing wheelchair accessible taxis, or converting existing taxis to accessible taxis. It’s estimated that these funds could result in 133 more accessible cabs in the City.
• The RTA awarded federal funds to the CTA to produce guides for customers who are blind or have a vision impairment. The guides, currently being designed, will be produced in Braille, plain text, and audio files.
• The RTA awarded federal and RTA funds to Metra to install Visual Information Systems which are now being designed and will provide display signage that lists real-time information about Metra train service and fcilitate greater mobility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.