09-R185

2009 -- H 6129

Enacted 04/23/09

 

 

H O U S E  R E S O L U T I O N

REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO REPORT ON THE ESTABLISMENT OF A STATEWIDE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives E Coderre, Kennedy, Marcello, Petrarca, and JP O`Neill

     Date Introduced: April 22, 2009

 

 

     WHEREAS, This General Assembly in 2007 previously "hereby found and declared as

follows:….(6) The state's public transit system should provide a variety of mobility options for

people that include services for people with special needs…", Rhode Island Public Law 2007

Chapter 504 Section 2 and Chapter 518 Section 2, Rhode Island general law section 39-18-1.1;

and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island Public Law Chapter 504 (2007 -- S 1060) An Act Relating to

Public Utilities and Carriers – Public Transit Authority and Chapter 518 (2007 -- H 6471) An Act

Relating to Public Utilities and Carriers – Public Transit Authority authorized the Rhode Island

Public Transit Authority to "provide public transit services that meet mobility needs of the people

of the state, including the elderly and disabled" and "To effectuate the purposes of this chapter the

authority shall have the following duties: (1) To participate in and contribute to transportation

planning initiatives that are relevant to the purposes of the authority; (2) To plan, coordinate,

develop, operate, maintain and manage a statewide public transit system consistent with the

purposes of the authority, including plans to meet demands for public transit where such demand,

current or prospective, exceeds supply and/or availability of public transit services; (3) To work

with departments, agencies, authorities and corporations of federal, state and local government,

public and private institutions, businesses, non-profit organization, users of the system and other

entities and persons to coordinate public transit services and provide a seamless network of

mobility options"; and

     WHEREAS, The February 2008 Report A Coordinated Plan for Public Transit-Human

Services Transportation in RI's Summary of Identified Needs found:

     "More transportation options allowing persons with disabilities to use community

resources and take part in community activities (e.g. evenings, weekends);

     Expand RIde trip eligibility to include non-medical transportation;

     Social/group transport, especially groups of disabled young adults;

     Consider service for persons with disabilities outside the ADA corridor;

     Affordability is an issue for many (reduce ADA fares, vouchers for homeless, etc.);

     Volunteer driver programs need more support (offset costs, driver recruitment); and

     Need on-demand wheelchair accessible taxi service throughout RI"; and

     WHEREAS, The February 2008 Report A Coordinated Plan for Public Transit-Human

Services Transportation in RI's Objective 4 Improve Transportation Options "Beyond the ADA"

Potential Strategies & Projects are:

     "(1) Make accessible cabs available to provide on-demand wheelchair accessible taxi

service throughout Rhode Island especially at TF Green Airport;

     (2) Support Mobility Management and coordination programs (including planning

activities, service promotion, individualized travel training, information centers, and planning for

enhanced technologies);

     (3) Provide accessible vehicle(s) for social outing, accommodating more than two

wheelchair passengers, particularly for groups of youth with disabilities;

     (4) Extend service hours for RIde users;

     (5) Provide the elderly, persons with disabilities and low income people with

transportation options for any trip purpose (social/recreational, errands, voting, work, medical,

etc.);

     (6) Improve/expand elder transportation in rural areas;

     (7) Improve airport information on accessible transit;

     (8) Review alternatives to allow RIPTA and RIde to cross state lines especially for

employment or medical trips;

     (9) Enhance the level of service by providing escorts or "door-to-door" service; and

     (10) Evaluate feasibility of program to provide taxi coupons/vouchers where disabled

individuals have the option to pay a share of higher trip costs in exchange for greater

convenience"; and

     WHEREAS, Federal Funds are available through the New Freedom Program, authorized

in Safe Accountable Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act, a Legacy for Users

(SAFETEA-LU) to support new public transportation services and public transportation

alternatives beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990,

including eighty percent of the purchase of wheelchair accessible vehicles and fifty percent of the

planning and operation of a statewide transportation program for individuals who need

wheelchair accessible vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, Section 44-54-1 Tax credit, provides small business taxpayers that "incurs

expenses to provide access to persons with disabilities shall be allowed a credit,…equal to ten

percent of the total amount expended in the state of Rhode Island during the taxable year but in

no event shall exceed the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for: (1) removing architectural,

communication, physical, or transportation barriers…."; and

     WHEREAS, Section 44 of the Internal Revenue Code assists small businesses cover

ADA-related eligible access expenditures including: removal of architectural barriers in facilities

or vehicles equal to fifty percent of the eligible access expenditures in a year, up to a maximum

expenditure of ten thousand two hundred fifty dollars; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island Public Law 2007 Chapter 266 (2007 -- S 0553 Substitute A)

An Act Relating to Public Utilities and Carriers -- Accessible Taxicabs and Rhode Island Public

Law 2007 Chapter 163 (2007 -- H 5371 Substitute B) An Act Relating to Public Utilities and

Carriers -- Handicapped Accessible Taxicabs provides a use tax credit from the sale of (a) special

adaptations, (b) the component parts of the special adaptations, for a "wheelchair accessible

taxicab" as defined in section 39-14-1 and/or a "wheelchair accessible public motor vehicle" as

defined in section 39-14.1-1 not to exceed the amount of use tax that would otherwise be due on

the motor vehicle, exclusive of any adaptations, The use tax credit is equal to the cost of the

special adaptations, including installation; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby directs the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority in consultation

with the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and the Governor's Commission on Disabilities

to submit a detailed implementation plan for a statewide New Freedom funded program to reduce

barriers to transportation services and expand the transportation mobility options available to

people with disabilities that need wheelchair accessible transportation beyond the requirements of

the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, including a detailed implementation

schedule to begin such service on or before September 1, 2009; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives directs that the Rhode Island Public

Transit Authority shall report its findings and recommendations to the Speaker and to the Chairs

of the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Corporations of the House of Representatives

no later than June 15, 2009; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the General Manager of the Rhode Island

Public Transit Authority, the Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, and

the Executive Secretary of the Governor's Commission on Disabilities.

     

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LC02528

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