CTAAccessible

Buses and TrainsMarch 2006

Chicago Transit Authority

www.transitchicago.com

The Chicago Transit Authoritywelcomes customers withdisabilities and has been making

steady progress toward a bus and railsystem that is accessible to all.

The CTA is committed to removingbarriers that prevent customers withdisabilities from using our main service.As of April 29, 2005, CTA reached100 percent accessibility on all of itsbus routes. All CTA buses are equippedwith lifts or ramps.

On the rail system, 88 percent of thetrain cars have accessible doors andeach train has a minimum of twoaccessible cars. There are at least 72 railstations with elevators or ramps. Plans arewell underway for additional accessiblestations on the Brown and Red lines.

While no bus or train system can beaccessible unless physical barriers thatprevent customers with disabilities fromboarding and riding are removed, theCTA recognizes that its employees—including bus and rail operators andCustomer Assistants—are essential inmaking the transit system accessible.

Working with its ADAAdvisory Committeeand other experts on disability issues,the CTA has been improving its policies

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and procedures to better address theneeds of customers with disabilities.

One hundred percent accessibility on busesprovides transit freedom to people withdisabilities who have been prevented inthe past from riding the bus.

The freedom to get on any bus and ride toany destination—work, school, shopping,medical appointments, recreation—without the pre-planning required byparatransit is a benefit that should beenjoyed by everyone possible within theCTA service area.

General InformationCustomers withdisabilities andsenior citizens canride CTA busesand trains at half theregular fare byobtaining a ReducedFare Riding Permitfrom the RegionalTransportation Authority(RTA). Contact the RTA at(312) 836-7000 (phone);(312) 836-4949 (TTY), or by e-mail atcommunications@rtachicago.org

These permits can be used as magneticfarecards capable of storing value, or

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just as identification cards when payingcash or using a separate reduced farecard (available as pay-per-ride or30-day passes).

If a person's disability prevents the useof a regular Transit Card, the RTA willprovide a “smart card”— similar to theCTA's Chicago CardTM—which willregister the fare just by holding it nearthe touchpad on the bus farebox orthe rail station turnstile.

To help plan a public transit trip witha fully accessible route, contact the RTA'sTravel Information Center at the numberson page 2. The travel information phonelines are staffed from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.daily, while the computerized versionof this service is available online attripsweb.rtachicago.com.

A person with a disability who haslittle or no experience riding a CTA busor train and would like some trainingor assistance for that first ride cancontact the CTA at 1-888-YOUR-CTA(968-7282); at the TTY number1-888-CTA-TTY1 (282-8891); or bye-mail at ctahelp@transitchicago.com.Individualized travel training will bemade available to anyone requesting it.

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The CTA publishesa Bus & Rail Mapshowing the entirebus and rail system,nearby suburbanPace routes andMetra rail lines.All accessible CTAroutes and railstations areindicated on themap, along with thedays and hours ofservice for train and bus routes. It isavailable through the CTA numberslisted above or at any CTA rail station.

Copies of this brochure also are avail-able in these alternate formats:

· audio cassette

· large print

· Braille

· computer disk

To request this brochure in anyalternate format, contact the CTA atthe numbers above.

All accessible buses and rail cars aremarked with the international symbolof accessibility.

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CTA FaresFull fare to ride a CTA bus is $2.00 in cashor $1.75 with a Transit Card, Chicago Cardor Chicago Card Plus. The full fare for rail is$2.00 with a Transit Card or $1.75 with aChicago Card or Chicago Card Plus.

Using any type of transit card will alsoprovide two additional rides within twohours for 25 cents more.Transfers are nolonger issued when paying with cash.

The reduced fare for customers withdisabilities is $1.00 if paid in cash or85 cents when paying with a ReducedFare Permit or Reduced Fare Transit Card.With either of these cards, the two hourtransfer period is 15 cents for up to twoadditional rides.

If the identification number on an RTAReduced Fare Riding Permit starts with theletter P, for Paratransit, a personal careattendant also can ride at the reduced farewhen accompanying the permit holder.

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Riding a CTA BusA customer with a disability shouldwait at any bus stop on an accessibleroute with a farecard or exact change.All CTA buses are equipped with liftsor ramps.

When paying the reduced fare, the RTAReduced Fare Permit must be shown tothe bus operator.

As the bus doors open, ask the operatorto deploy the lift or ramp if needed. Noexplanation is necessary, even for acustomer whose disability is not apparent.CTA policy is for the lift or ramp to beused at any customer's request, not justfor customers using wheelchairs or otherassistive devices. In fact, the lift or rampalso must be deployed for customerswithout disabilities if so requested.

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On a bus equipped with a lift ratherthan a ramp, two adults should not useit at the same time due to weightlimitations (600 lbs. is the maximumunder ADA guidelines). An adultaccompanying a customer using amobility device can board or exitthrough the rear door of the bus ifnecessary to assist someone from the lift.

Once on board, pay the fare with aTransit Card or cash; the bus operator willassist in this procedure only if requested.

A customer using a wheelchair or othermobility device should ask the busoperator for help, if needed, to use thesecurement system. CTA policy is foreach customer to decide how much orlittle assistance is needed. Though up toeach customer, riding secured on a bus isstrongly recommended for safety reasons.

Even if securement is declined, acustomer using a wheelchair or othermobility device must ride in the priorityseating area so the bus aisle remainsclear. Many buses now have space fortwo wheelchairs at the same time.

If unfamiliar with use of the stoprequest signal in the priority seating area,ask the bus operator to demonstrate itsuse when boarding.

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CTA policy is for each upcoming busstop to be announced, whether or notsomeone with a disability is on board.The stops must be announced eitherthrough the public address system oraudibly enough to be heard from allsections of the vehicle.

All buses are equipped with anaudio/visual system that uses globalpositioning satellite technology toautomatically announce each upcomingbus stop, both audibly and on asignboard. This system includes exteriorannouncements that identify the busroute and its destination as the frontdoors are opened.

When the bus reaches the destinationstop, ask the operator to disconnectthe securement system if suchassistance is needed.

There are times when a bus will be toocrowded to board or where customersalready in the priority seating (whomay or may not have disabilities oftheir own) decline to move. A busoperator can only request—notrequire—other paying customers tovacate the priority seating.

Customers with disabilities face thesame option as anyone else when a bus

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arrives without room to board—waitfor the next one. However, in the greatmajority of cases, other customers willmove or stand when a customer with adisability needs the priority seating.

Should there be any problem boardingor riding a bus— for example, if the liftor ramp is not deployed, the stops arenot called in advance, etc.—pleasetake note of the time, location and theID number of the employee and/or thevehicle and report the circumstances tothe CTA [see page 16].

Employee ID numbers are worn onemployee uniforms; the ID number of thevehicle is painted above the windshield

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on the inside of the bus and on all fourexterior sides. The “run number” of thebus, also helpful for identification, isposted on a sign visible from the outsidein the lower left corner of the windshield.

In addition, the bus ID number—in both Braille and raised numbers—is located on the panel just behind thedriver, exactly 60 inches (five feet) fromthe floor. It also is located at the sameheight on the panel to the right of therear door.

Problems should be reported immediately,so they can be investigated and correctedas quickly as possible.

Riding a CTA TrainAccessible CTA rail stations areequipped with elevators and/or rampsto help customers reach the platforms.Portable ramps, called “gap fillers,”are available to bridge the small space

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between the edge of the platform andthe rail car door.

To make sure the stations to be usedduring any trip are accessible, contactthe RTA Travel Information Center orconsult CTA's Bus & Rail Map or CTA’sweb site (www.transitchicago.com)under “Accessible Services.”

If an elevator is essential to making astation accessible for a particularcustomer, you can make sure theelevator is in working order by callingthe CTA's Elevator Status Line at1-888-YOUR-CTA (968-7282), selectingprompt 5 from the menu. The statusline is updated whenever an elevatorgoes in or out of service. The sameinformation is posted in writing at eachaccessible rail station.

Upon arriving at a CTA rail station, seekout the Customer Assistant if using aReduced Fare Card or wanting to enterthrough the accessible gate rather thana rail station turnstile.

The hours that Customer Assistants areavailable at each of the rail stations areposted on the CTA's web site under“Accessible Services.” Security guardsare available to provide assistance atother times.

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If the Customer Assistant is occupiedelsewhere, he or she can be summonedby the Customer Assistance Call Buttonnear the station turnstiles. A similarCall Button is available on each railstation platform; if unfamiliar with itslocation, ask the Customer Assistant orrail operator to point out its location.Each rail car also has a call button tocontact the rail operator.

Because Customer Assistants musthelp any customer with a question orconcern, there may be a short delaybefore the employee can arrive todeploy the “gap filler.” If necessary, therail operator will perform this service.

Advising the Customer Assistant or railoperator of the destination station willhelp ensure the gap filler is ready toassist the customer off the train.

Customers can also use the intercombutton in each rail car to notify the railoperator that the gap filler is needed atthe next stop, though such a reminder isoptional if the destination was commu-nicated in advance. Each upcoming stopis announced by an automated system.

If requested, the Customer Assistant orrail operator will assist a customer toreach the securement area on the train

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and lift the passenger seat; actual useof the securement devices is optional.

When a customer with a disability is ona rail station platform and needs anyassistance not quickly available from anon-site CTA employee, a free call can bemade to the CTA Control Center fromany pay phone by dialing the "star"button (*) and the number one (1).(TTY, dial the "star"button (*) and thenumber two (2).)Select prompt 5from the menu. TheControl Center alsocan be reached onregular or cellphones by calling(312) 664-7200 or1-888-YOUR-CTA.

Should an elevator not be workingwhen a customer enters or leaves anaccessible rail station, the customershould notify the Customer Assistant orthe CTA Control Center. All neededassistance will be provided, includingthe best possible alternate route.

A sign board in the lobby of each accessi-ble rail station is updated with the statusof the elevators at all other stations.

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If an alternate route is not possible orwould add too much time to the trip, aparatransit van will be dispatched tohelp a customer with a disability who isstranded. This help is available even ifthe stranded customer is not currentlycertified for paratransit. If the customeris using a mobility device that cannotbe secured on paratransit (which isrequired), a full-sized accessible buswill be provided.

For customers who are blind or haveimpaired vision, exterior announcementsare made at rail stations serving morethan one rail line to identify thespecific route of each arriving train.

Also, for customers who are deaf orhard of hearing, an “express light” inthe center of each rail car will flashif the train has been delayed andneeds to bypass stations to get backon schedule. If this occurs and thecustomer does not notice the blinkinglight in time to exit, he or she can getoff wherever the train does stop andride back in the other direction to thedesired station.

When reporting any problem in riding aCTA rail line, the identification numberof the rail car is important to note.

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It is painted on the inside and outsideof the car, and is in Braille and raisednumbers on the panel to the right whenfacing the doors, 60 inches from the floor.The “run number” of the train—alsouseful in identification — is posted on thefront of the first car and is announcedperiodically over the loudspeaker.

Comments and ConcernsThe CTA is committed to providing on-time, clean, safe and friendly service.We recognize that customers withdisabilities often require certain equipmentand employee services to eliminatebarriers to using the buses and trains.

CTA’s policy is to offer assistance, butleave it up to each customer how muchor how little to accept. Employees willnot touch customers or their assistivedevices in offering such help unlessrequested to do so by the customer.Anyone who needs assistance paying

the fare should request it, as CTAemployees usually do not handlemoney or farecards.

Our efforts to improve services forcustomers with disabilities are nevercomplete; the CTA is always interestedin comments and suggestions on howits policies and procedures can berefined or improved to make the trainsand buses even more accessible.

Here is a summary of the informationresources available to customerswith disabilities:

Planning a trip:RTA Travel Information:

voice: (312) 836-7000(5 a.m. to 1 a.m.)

TTY: (312) 836-4949tripsweb.rtachicago.com (online)

CTA Elevator Status Line:voice: 1-888-YOUR-CTA (968-7282)

press prompt 5 on menuTTY: (312) 432-8070

Seeking travel training orreporting a problem:CTA Customer Service:

voice: 1-888-YOUR-CTA (968-7282)(7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

TTY: 1-888-CTA-TTY 1 (282-8891)ctahelp@transitchicago.com (e-mail)

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Applying for RTA Reduced FarePermit:RTA Services:

voice: (312) 836-7000TTY: (312) 836-4949

www.rtachicago.org (online)

Emergency assistance atrail stations:CTA Control Center:

(312) 664-7200(prompt 5 on menu);

from rail station pay phones,dial *1 (no coins needed);TTY dial *2

Obtaining this brochure or anyother CTA publications inalternate formats:CTA Customer Service:

voice: 1-888-YOUR-CTA (968-7282)TTY: 1-888-CTA-TTY 1 (282-8891)

e-mail: ctahelp@transitchicago.com

For listings of accessible bus routes andrail stations, Customer Assistant hoursand descriptions of all CTA services forcustomers with disabilities, visit ourweb site at www.transitchicago.comand select “Accessible Services.”Contact the CTA at the above numbersor addresses to obtain the informationin any needed accessible format.

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