§47145 Pilot program for airport accessibility

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must set up a pilot program to give grants to airport sponsors. The grants pay for capital projects that make commercial service airports, terminals, or facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. Money can be used to fix, improve, or move airport infrastructure; to create or change an accessibility plan (including assessments done by disability advisory committees, protection and advocacy systems, centers for independent living, or disability groups); or for other projects that meet or beat the standards in the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Sponsors may upgrade airports to current standards even if the overall service is already mostly accessible. The Government’s share of project costs follows the rules in section 47109. Grant winners must adopt a plan to improve passenger experience and maximize accessibility. That plan should cover things like bathrooms and counters, better audio and visual information, more accessible seating and power outlets for medical equipment, accessible websites and tech, and more elevators (including elevators that can move power wheelchairs to an aircraft). Plans should improve operations and services, set up a disability advisory committee for small, medium, or large hub airports, and improve staff, infrastructure, and technology to help passengers request assistance. The Secretary must encourage working with disability advocacy groups and using accessibility assessments when needed. Definitions: "center for independent living" (as defined in the Rehabilitation Act), "disability advisory committee" (stakeholders who give accessibility input), and "protection and advocacy system" (the system set up under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act). For fiscal years 2025 through 2028, up to $20,000,000 each year may be used from the discretionary fund under section 47115 to run the program.