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The Over-the-Road Bus Transportation Accessibility Act of 2007 (H.R. 3985)
H.R. 3985, The Over-the-Road Bus Transportation Accessibility Act of 2007 establishes legislation that would address the issues associated with private intercity bus companies without stations, known as curbside carriers compliance with the ADA. These companies, which use high-floor "over-the-road" buses and offer budget fares along the Eastern seaboard and across the country, often operate inaccessible buses and have a reported history of denying transportation to blind people with guide dogs or requiring them to sit in the last row of the bus.
HR 3985 provides authority to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the office at DOT that licenses and regulates privately-operated bus carriers, to fully consider ADA compliance when it grants and revokes operating authority to passenger motor carriers.
HR 3985 does not amend the ADA, but rather, amends the law that gives FMCSA its authority, adding the DOT ADA regulation (Part 37) to the list of items FMCSA must consider in granting and revoking operating authority. It also requires FMCSA implementation in 30 days and a coordinated enforcement agreement between FMCSA and the Department of Justice in six months.
A full copy of this proposed legislation is available on-line at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-3985.
This bill was passed unanimously on October 31 by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.