§12148 Public transportation programs and activities in existing facilities and one car per train rule

Summary

Public transit agencies must run services in existing stations and buildings so that, when you look at the whole program, people with disabilities can easily get to and use the services. That is considered discrimination under federal disability civil-rights laws if they do not. Agencies do not have to make structural changes to old buildings unless other parts of the law about alterations or key stations say they must. Also, if a wheelchair user could not use a particular service at a facility, the agency does not have to provide that specific service to them there. For trains made of two or more cars, the agency must have at least one car per train that is accessible to people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, as soon as possible but no later than the last day of the 5-year period beginning on the effective date of this section. If a remanufactured historic rail car on the National Register would lose its historic character by becoming fully accessible, the agency only has to make the accessibility changes required by section 12142(c)(1) that do not significantly alter the car’s historic character.