Access Allegany

Welcomes All Riders

Access Allegany is a Public Transportation System that is open to everyone and follows ADA requirements.  All Access Allegany buses are equipped with a lift, which is available for anyone to use at no additional fee. If you require assistance boarding or disembarking the bus, please ask the driver.

NOTICE TO PUBLIC: Our Commitment to Non-Discriminatory Services- Title VI

Allegany County hereby gives public notice that it is the policy of Allegany County to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations, as amended, require that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, gender, or national origin be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which Allegany County receives Federal financial assistance.
 
Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI has a right to file a complaint with the Allegany County Title VI Coordinator within (180) days following the date of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. Title VI Discrimination Complaint Forms may be obtained from this office at no cost to the complainant on our website at www.alleganyco.com (Go to County Administrator’s Webpage) or by calling 585-268-9217

Reasonable Modifications to Policy, Practice & Procedure in Public Transportation

The law

Department of Transportation (DOT) issues regulations implementing the transportation and related provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. These regulations apply broadly to both public and private entities and to almost all types of transportation services, including fixed route bus and rail (e.g., commuter, rapid, and light rail), complementary paratransit, demand responsive service and ferry service. 

Title II of the ADA applies to public transportation provided by State and local governments. Section 504 applies to all organizations and agencies that receive federal funding. Both laws require that policies, practice and procedures be modified so that the transportation services are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Type of public transportation services delivered by Access Allegany

1.     Fixed-route bus service—buses have established routes and make stops at pre-determined destinations.

Public transportation accessibility modifications

Modifications that make public transportation accessible to individuals with disabilities includes lifts, changes in stop locations, and designated seating areas.

Requests for modifications

Access Allegany will: 

·        Provide public transit accessible to individuals with disabilities:

• Lifts are readily available on every public transit bus
• Buses will travel within ¾ of a mile of the public transit route with prior notification
• Stop locations may be modified along the public transit route if safe to do so
• Buses will have seating areas that are safe and convenient
• Provide several accessible ways to request the reasonable modification—for example, through phone, email, or on the Access Allegany website
• Inform rider of decision to grant or deny request.

Rider’s Responsibilities:

·        Provide a clear description of the modification needed to use the transportation service (for example, relocating a bus stop to the next block if the current location is inaccessible).

·        Make the modification request as far in advance as possible, particularly when there is a long-term problem. For example, there is no accessible bus stop, the ramp to the passenger’s front door is too steep to be picked up at the front, construction blocks the regular route, etc. Advance requests can be made at any time during the eligibility determination, reservation, or complaint process.

Transit providers do not need to provide a modification if it:

·        Causes a direct threat to the health or safety of others. For example, when assisting a passenger means leaving the transit vehicle unattended in a   high traffic area, that could likely result in a collision and endanger the safety of the other passengers.

·        Results in a fundamental alteration of the service. For example, if an individual requests the driver of a fixed-route service to stop at a location that is not on the schedule, this is a fundamental alteration to fixed-route service.

·        Is unnecessary in order for the individual with the disability to receive services. For example, a passenger asks to sit in the same seat every time because of a personal preference.

·        Results in an undue financial or administrative burden to the transit agency. (Applies only to recipients of Federal financial assistance.) An individual who requests a specific driver for a paratransit trip may be denied this request because this would cause an administrative burden.

Common examples of reasonable modification requests in fixed-route transportation include:

·        Positioning the bus for loading and unloading in a location where there are no obstructions, such as construction.

·        Allowing a person with diabetes to eat on the bus to avoid a drop in glucose.

Common examples of reasonable modification requests in paratransit include:

·        Picking a rider up at a building entrance that is flat and unobstructed.

·        Helping an individual who is blind get to the front of the building in extreme weather.

How to File a Complaint

Follow the complaint process of the local transportation agency directly first. For more information on filing a complaint, please contact:

         Allegany County Administrators Office

         7 Court Street

         Belmont, NY 14813

If the transit agency is unable to resolve the complaint, you can file a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights. Complaints should be filed within 180 days from the date of the incident. Download the FTA complaint form(link is external) and mail it to:

Federal Transit Administration
Office of Civil Rights
Attention: Complaint Team
East Building, 5th Floor – TCR
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590

Include the following information with your complaint:

·        Statement of events including the date(s) and time(s)

·        Any supporting documentation

You will receive a letter from the FTA that describes the findings of the investigation and any corrective action the transit agency is required to take to correct the problem.

For more information about the ADA and Public Transportation, call an ADA specialist at 1-800-949-4232. All calls are confidential.