§12148 Public Transportation Programs and Activities in Existing Facilities and One Car Per Train Rule

Summary

Public transit run in existing buildings must be operated so the whole program is easy for people with disabilities to reach and use. If a public agency does not do that, it is treated as discrimination under federal disability law. The agency does not have to make structural changes to buildings to help people who use wheelchairs unless other rules about alterations or key stations (sections 12147(a) and 12147(b)) require those changes. The agency also does not have to offer services at a site to wheelchair users if those users could not use or benefit from the services there. For light-rail or rapid-rail trains made of two or more vehicles, at least one car per train must be accessible to people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, as soon as possible but no later than five years after this law took effect. If a historic vehicle on the National Register of Historic Places is being remanufactured and making it accessible would seriously change its historic character, the operator only has to make the accessibility changes required by section 12142(c)(1) that do not significantly alter the vehicle’s historic character.