In May 2021, members of Congress introduced the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act of 2021, legislation that aims to help make public transportation systems more accessible to passengers with disabilities. The bill is also known as S. 1680 and H.R. 3317. In the U.S. Senate, the ASAP Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Senate Committee on Banking, Senate Housing and Urban Affairs Chair Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Senate Special Committee on Aging Chair Bob Casey (D-PA). In the U.S. House, the ASAP Act was introduced by Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), and Congresswoman Marie Newman (IL-03), members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

According to the Federal Transit Administration, as of 2019 nearly 20 percent of all transit stations were not ADA accessible. The ASAP Act would establish a discretionary grant program that supports local transit authority and commuter rail efforts to increase the number of existing accessible stations or facilities that meet or exceed accessibility design standards under the ADA for rapid rail and commuter rail systems. The program would appropriate $10 billion over 10 years – at least $1 billion annually – for this grant program.

In order to further the ASAP Act, advocates are asking for the supporting of national, state and local organizations and agencies. The supporter list will be posted at the ASAP Act page for Access Living.

Questions may be directed to Amber Smock, Director of Advocacy for Access Living, at asmock@accessliving.org.