ADA Advisory Board of Southwest Florida

ADA Advisory BoardADA Advisory Boardof Southwest Floridaof Southwest Florida

Serving all Disabled in Southwest FloridaServing all Disabled in Southwest Florida

Proposed Elimination of Bus Route 80 Service

ADA Citizen IssuesADA Citizen Issues

Disable Citizens will lose there access and Disable Citizens will lose there access and quality of life due to no fault of there own.quality of life due to no fault of there own.

Disable Citizens are forced to move locations Disable Citizens are forced to move locations when County Public Transportation moves when County Public Transportation moves Service.Service.

Disabled Citizens who currently use the Lee Disabled Citizens who currently use the Lee Trans Passport Service will now lose there Trans Passport Service will now lose there quality of life, by having no transportation to quality of life, by having no transportation to work, and other places that people go to be on work, and other places that people go to be on the same level.the same level.

ADA Citizen IssuesADA Citizen Issues

Disabled Citizens on Fixed income are not able Disabled Citizens on Fixed income are not able to have equal access to the facilities of Lee to have equal access to the facilities of Lee County that other Citizens enjoyCounty that other Citizens enjoy

Disabled Citizens are only able to do things Disabled Citizens are only able to do things utilizing Lee Trans Passport on a Monday – utilizing Lee Trans Passport on a Monday – Friday as they are not able to do so on Saturday Friday as they are not able to do so on Saturday and Sunday due to no service in there areas due and Sunday due to no service in there areas due to Current Policy.to Current Policy. This is hard for them to do if they work normal hours This is hard for them to do if they work normal hours

as everyone else. as everyone else.

(ADA) The Americans (ADA) The Americans with Disabilities Actwith Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities, such as buying an item at everyday activities, such as buying an item at the store, going to the movies, enjoying a meal the store, going to the movies, enjoying a meal at a local restaurant, exercising at the health at a local restaurant, exercising at the health club, or having the car serviced at a local club, or having the car serviced at a local garage.garage.

These requirements went into effect on January 26, 1992

State and Local GovernmentsState and Local Governments

Q. Does the ADA apply to State and local Q. Does the ADA apply to State and local governments?governments?

State and Local GovernmentsState and Local Governments

A. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against A. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all programs, qualified individuals with disabilities in all programs, activities, and services of public entities. It applies to all activities, and services of public entities. It applies to all State and local governments, their departments and State and local governments, their departments and agencies, and any other instrumentalities or special purpose agencies, and any other instrumentalities or special purpose districts of State or local governments. It clarifies the districts of State or local governments. It clarifies the requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for public transportation systems that receive Federal 1973 for public transportation systems that receive Federal financial assistance, and extends coverage to all public financial assistance, and extends coverage to all public entities that provide public transportation, whether or not entities that provide public transportation, whether or not they receive Federal financial assistance. It establishes they receive Federal financial assistance. It establishes detailed standards for the operation of public transit detailed standards for the operation of public transit systems, including commuter and intercity rail (AMTRAK).systems, including commuter and intercity rail (AMTRAK).

State and Local GovernmentsState and Local Governments

Q. How does title II affect participation Q. How does title II affect participation in a State or local government's in a State or local government's programs, activities, and services?programs, activities, and services?

State and Local GovernmentsState and Local Governments

A.A. A state or local government must eliminate any A state or local government must eliminate any eligibility criteria for participation in programs, activities, eligibility criteria for participation in programs, activities, and services that screen out or tend to screen out persons and services that screen out or tend to screen out persons with disabilities, unless it can establish that the with disabilities, unless it can establish that the requirements are necessary for the provision of the requirements are necessary for the provision of the service, program, or activity. The State or local service, program, or activity. The State or local government may, however, adopt legitimate safety government may, however, adopt legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation if they are requirements necessary for safe operation if they are based on real risks, not on stereotypes or generalizations based on real risks, not on stereotypes or generalizations about individuals with disabilities. Finally, a public entity about individuals with disabilities. Finally, a public entity must reasonably modify its policies, practices, or must reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures to avoid discrimination. If the public entity can procedures to avoid discrimination. If the public entity can demonstrate that a particular modification would demonstrate that a particular modification would fundamentally alter the nature of its service, program, or fundamentally alter the nature of its service, program, or activity, it is not required to make that modification.activity, it is not required to make that modification.

Current Lee Trans Fixed RoutesCurrent Lee Trans Fixed Routes

50 – SW FL Airport – Summerlin Square50 – SW FL Airport – Summerlin Square

80 – Bell Tower – Edison Mall80 – Bell Tower – Edison Mall

100 – Riverdale to Downtown Ft Myers100 – Riverdale to Downtown Ft Myersthen Becomes the 140 to Bell Tower then back then Becomes the 140 to Bell Tower then back to Downtown then becomes the 100to Downtown then becomes the 100

140 – Merchants Crossing – San Carlos Park140 – Merchants Crossing – San Carlos Park

Current Services Current Services Provided by these RoutesProvided by these Routes

50 – Service M-F, Saturday, Sunday50 – Service M-F, Saturday, Sunday

80 – Service M-F, No Weekend Service80 – Service M-F, No Weekend Service

100 – Service M-F, Saturday, Sunday100 – Service M-F, Saturday, Sunday

140 – Service M-F, Saturday, Sunday140 – Service M-F, Saturday, Sunday

Requirements Requirements

Must live with in ¾ mile of a fixed routeMust live with in ¾ mile of a fixed route

Be approved and certified by a doctorBe approved and certified by a doctor

Route 80Route 80

Route 80 provides service every hour and Route 80 provides service every hour and 50 minutes from the Publix at South Trail 50 minutes from the Publix at South Trail to, Edison Mall and then to Bell Tower.  to, Edison Mall and then to Bell Tower.  The primary roads it uses are Solomon, The primary roads it uses are Solomon, Evans, Winkler, Metro, into Page Park, Evans, Winkler, Metro, into Page Park, and then Daniels Pkwy.  It also services and then Daniels Pkwy.  It also services Swamp Cabbage Ct and Gulf Coast Swamp Cabbage Ct and Gulf Coast Hospital.Hospital.

Route 100Route 100

Route 100 provides service from Riverdale Route 100 provides service from Riverdale along Palm Beach Blvd, Marsh Ave, along Palm Beach Blvd, Marsh Ave, Michigan Ave, and Palmetto to Downtown Michigan Ave, and Palmetto to Downtown Ft Myers.  Monday through Friday service Ft Myers.  Monday through Friday service continues along Cleveland Ave to Edison continues along Cleveland Ave to Edison Mall and then to Bell Tower. On Saturday, Mall and then to Bell Tower. On Saturday, the Route 100 service runs from Riverdale the Route 100 service runs from Riverdale to Downtown Ft Myers only. to Downtown Ft Myers only.

Possible SolutionsPossible Solutions

Dropping the ¾ mile requirement to a fixed Dropping the ¾ mile requirement to a fixed route so that anyone who is disabled in Lee route so that anyone who is disabled in Lee County can have equal access.County can have equal access.

Taking the 100 Bus and when it gets to the Taking the 100 Bus and when it gets to the Edison Mall Transfer Point, it then goes down Edison Mall Transfer Point, it then goes down Metro to Bell Tower then on 41 to Edison Mall, Metro to Bell Tower then on 41 to Edison Mall, then downtown then to Riverdale.then downtown then to Riverdale.

Having Weekend Service for the Lee Trans Having Weekend Service for the Lee Trans Passport so that Disabled can do normal quality Passport so that Disabled can do normal quality of life activities of life activities

SummarySummary

Disabled Citizens who use the Lee Trans Disabled Citizens who use the Lee Trans system (Fixed and Passport) will now have system (Fixed and Passport) will now have the following options:the following options:

Move to another FIXED route locationMove to another FIXED route location

Give up there current work due to no service Give up there current work due to no service for them to get to and from workfor them to get to and from work

Stay at home due to no transportation and Stay at home due to no transportation and lose there current quality of life.lose there current quality of life.

Summary (Continued)Summary (Continued)

Provide all Disabled Citizens of Lee County Provide all Disabled Citizens of Lee County equal access and the same quality of live as any equal access and the same quality of live as any other citizen of Lee County has.other citizen of Lee County has.

Most disabled do not drive and rely on Lee Most disabled do not drive and rely on Lee Trans Public and Passport services as this is Trans Public and Passport services as this is there only means of getting out of there homes.there only means of getting out of there homes.

Taking this from them now forces them to live at Taking this from them now forces them to live at home and have to ask others for help and home and have to ask others for help and transportation that they need to have a quality of life.transportation that they need to have a quality of life.

Summary (Continued)Summary (Continued)

Not all Disabled Citizens being given equal Not all Disabled Citizens being given equal access. access.

Only those with Weekend Service can Only those with Weekend Service can maintain there current quality of life.maintain there current quality of life.

Those without Weekend Service are reduced Those without Weekend Service are reduced to added hardships.to added hardships.

Summary (Continued)Summary (Continued)

The Blind Citizens of Lee County that utilize the The Blind Citizens of Lee County that utilize the Lee Trans Fixed and Passport Services are Lee Trans Fixed and Passport Services are reduced to staying at home and additional reduced to staying at home and additional hardships.hardships.

The Blind can not DRIVE and get around like The Blind can not DRIVE and get around like everyone else can.everyone else can.

Those with service dogs now have additional Those with service dogs now have additional hardships to get places to maintain there quality of hardships to get places to maintain there quality of life.life.

Summary (Continued)Summary (Continued)

Good Wheels is not able to handle these request Good Wheels is not able to handle these request due to that they handle medical only due to that they handle medical only transportation.transportation.

There is no other Service for the disabled to use.There is no other Service for the disabled to use.

All Disabled Citizens are entitled to have the All Disabled Citizens are entitled to have the same quality of life as any other citizen of Lee same quality of life as any other citizen of Lee County.County.