§12142 Public entities operating fixed route systems

Summary

Public transit agencies that run fixed routes must treat buying or leasing inaccessible new buses, rapid rail cars, light rail cars, or other new vehicles after the 30th day following July 26, 1990 as discrimination under federal disability laws. New vehicles must be easy to get into and use for people with disabilities, including people who use wheelchairs. For used vehicles bought or leased after that same date, agencies must show they made good faith efforts to get used vehicles that are accessible. Agencies must also not remanufacture a vehicle so its service life is extended 5 years or more, or buy/lease such a remanufactured vehicle, if that work or purchase happens after the 30th day following July 26, 1990, unless the vehicle meets the accessibility rules. If a route uses a vehicle listed on the National Register of Historic Places and making it fully accessible would seriously change its historic character, the agency only has to make accessibility changes that are needed and that do not significantly alter the vehicle’s historic character. The Secretary’s regulations define what counts as a vehicle of historic character.