Transportation fundamentally serves accessibility and mobility. It provides the foundation for how individuals live and connect with others, and how the economy grows at the local, State regional, and national levels. Social equity demands that transportation – its planning, development, and implementation – support mobility for people of varying levels of ability and income, and serve broader community goals such as economic development and community vitality.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 56.7million people living in the United States had some kind of disability in 2010. These individuals offer unique sets of skills to the workforce, and they make up a significant market of consumers, representing more than $200 billion in discretionary spending in 2010, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 fostered a significant shift in the way the transportation industry approaches building and maintaining roadways, sidewalks, and other infrastructure. In many cases, the act literally paved a path for people with disabilities. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the ADA, and with that comes an opportunity to look back and celebrate its achievements – and look ahead at what remains to be done.
Infrastructure improvements that remove barriers to pedestrian access in public rights-of-way reap significant benefits to pedestrians with disabilities and society as a whole. Accessible facilities generally work better for everyone – those using wheelchairs or white canes to travel, parents with strollers, and those delivering goods.
Source: Public Roads: Access for All (FHWA)
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