neroden
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So, I decided to see how far Amtrak had gotten with the absolute basics -- getting people in wheelchairs from the street to the train -- since 2014, when the Amtrak OIG issued this very useful report:
https://amtrakoig.gov/report-records/audit-reports/train-operations-and-business-management-addressing-management
At the time, there were 17 totally inaccessible stations ("where passengers who use a wheeled mobility device cannot get on or off the train"). Two (Glenwood Springs and Westerly RI) were listed as accessible on Amtrak.com already but had serious problems.
Ashland VA -- no wheelchair lift! No plans!
Buffalo Exchange Street NY -- accessible platform and wheelchair lift, yay. (Building collapsed, though.)
Clifton Forge VA -- no wheelchair lift! No plans!
Coatseville PA -- can't reach platform. Planned by PennDOT but no project updates for a year.
Elko NV -- can't reach platform! No plans!
Glenwood Springs CO -- no change (wheelchair route is very problematic, having gone through a construction site for several years)
Harpers Ferry WV -- can't reach platform! No plans!
Marshall TX -- success! Yay! (Amtrak is now leaving it unattended, which is risky for elevator maintenance.)
Mount Joy PA -- under construction
Newark DE -- looks like it's funded, building under construction, platform not under construction yet, maybe by 2020 or later
Paoli PA -- under construction
Parkesburg PA -- can't reach platform. Planned by PennDOT but no project updates for two years.
North Philadelphia -- can't reach platform! No plans!
Westerly RI -- there are plans (wheelchair route is very problematic)
( http://www.thewesterlysun.com/News/Westerly/Amtrak-plans-work-to-address-access-problems-at-Westerly-train-station.html )
Windsor CT -- OK now (problems fixed at old station though new station planned)
Windsor Locks CT -- OK now (problems fixed at old station though new station planned)
Windsor - Mt Ascutney VT -- OK now.
So... that's not terrible? But it is pretty bad after 4 years. The outstanding "no progress" stations are:
Ashland VA and Clifton Forge VA -- apparently just need wheelchair lifts; what's the delay?!?
Coatseville PA & Parkesburg PA -- in the queue for PennDOT funding
North Philadelphia PA -- has Amtrak considered just not stopping here and leaving the problem in SEPTA's hands?
Elko NV -- what's the holdup?
Harpers Ferry WV -- what's the holdup? (Apparently Martinsburg is getting a new platform and wheelchair lift. Great, but, uh... it was better than Harper's Ferry already... what's going on?)
Glenwood Springs CO -- come on, guys, why didn't you put in access when a giant public elevator was being built next door to the platform? Seriously?!?
Of course there are lots of other ADA problems but this is the basic basics. In 4 years, there's been progress on 9 of the 17 most problematic stations -- that's not impressive.
https://amtrakoig.gov/report-records/audit-reports/train-operations-and-business-management-addressing-management
At the time, there were 17 totally inaccessible stations ("where passengers who use a wheeled mobility device cannot get on or off the train"). Two (Glenwood Springs and Westerly RI) were listed as accessible on Amtrak.com already but had serious problems.
Ashland VA -- no wheelchair lift! No plans!
Buffalo Exchange Street NY -- accessible platform and wheelchair lift, yay. (Building collapsed, though.)
Clifton Forge VA -- no wheelchair lift! No plans!
Coatseville PA -- can't reach platform. Planned by PennDOT but no project updates for a year.
Elko NV -- can't reach platform! No plans!
Glenwood Springs CO -- no change (wheelchair route is very problematic, having gone through a construction site for several years)
Harpers Ferry WV -- can't reach platform! No plans!
Marshall TX -- success! Yay! (Amtrak is now leaving it unattended, which is risky for elevator maintenance.)
Mount Joy PA -- under construction
Newark DE -- looks like it's funded, building under construction, platform not under construction yet, maybe by 2020 or later
Paoli PA -- under construction
Parkesburg PA -- can't reach platform. Planned by PennDOT but no project updates for two years.
North Philadelphia -- can't reach platform! No plans!
Westerly RI -- there are plans (wheelchair route is very problematic)
( http://www.thewesterlysun.com/News/Westerly/Amtrak-plans-work-to-address-access-problems-at-Westerly-train-station.html )
Windsor CT -- OK now (problems fixed at old station though new station planned)
Windsor Locks CT -- OK now (problems fixed at old station though new station planned)
Windsor - Mt Ascutney VT -- OK now.
So... that's not terrible? But it is pretty bad after 4 years. The outstanding "no progress" stations are:
Ashland VA and Clifton Forge VA -- apparently just need wheelchair lifts; what's the delay?!?
Coatseville PA & Parkesburg PA -- in the queue for PennDOT funding
North Philadelphia PA -- has Amtrak considered just not stopping here and leaving the problem in SEPTA's hands?
Elko NV -- what's the holdup?
Harpers Ferry WV -- what's the holdup? (Apparently Martinsburg is getting a new platform and wheelchair lift. Great, but, uh... it was better than Harper's Ferry already... what's going on?)
Glenwood Springs CO -- come on, guys, why didn't you put in access when a giant public elevator was being built next door to the platform? Seriously?!?
Of course there are lots of other ADA problems but this is the basic basics. In 4 years, there's been progress on 9 of the 17 most problematic stations -- that's not impressive.
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