City of Madison Prioritizes BRT Accessibility, Partners With Local Experts

The City of Madison is working directly with experts in accessibility to give feedback on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and its upcoming rollout. The goal is that the City’s bus service will be usable by all, especially residents and visitors with disabilities. 

Working across agencies, the City of Madison is evaluating our transportation and pedestrian systems to better meet the needs of residents and visitors with disabilities. 

Metro Transit is committed to making Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) accessible. Metro  recently invited City of Madison Disability Rights and Services Specialist Rebecca Hoyt and Jason Beloungy and Ben Hinkel, of Access to Independence, to tour the busses, stops, and new fare systems.  

“Access to Independence shares the goal of a BRT system that is usable by all passengers with disabilities, and is pleased to support the City of Madison’s efforts to accomplish this goal,” Access to Independence Executive Director Jason Beloungy said. 

Access to Independence is a local disability-led organization that is part of the national Independent Living network and is consulting with the City as they update the City’s ADA Transition Plan. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with local leaders in access and inclusion to improve transportation options for residents with disabilities,” Hoyt said. 

The ADA transition plan helps the City identify potential ADA compliance issues within the transportation and pedestrian right-of-way systems. The ADA transition plan also guides the City’s plans to address future access improvements.

Metro has already incorporated the following accessibility features into the BRT project: 

• All platforms, facilities, and crossings will meet the newest ADA guidelines.
• Street crossings at stations will feature wide, continental style* crosswalks with signals. 
• Pedestrian signals will include audible signals. 
• Five new traffic signals will be added to help people cross the street along the corridor.
• Many of the platforms will be in the middle of the street. People will only have to cross half the street  to get on the bus
• Information signs will be visual and audible.
• The platforms will be even with the bus. This will make it easier for people with mobility challenges to get on the bus compared to our current method of kneeling to the bus. The level platform eliminates the horizontal gap. 
• To close the vertical platform gap, there will be bridge plates. These are smaller versions of the typical ramp. They deploy faster and without slope.
• Buses will have new wheelchair securements. Passengers using wheelchairs will have the option of being secured by the driver or securing themselves. The new self-securement option will offer more independence, and a similar experience to non-wheelchair users. 
• Platforms will feature detectable warning fields and tactile warning strips. The warning fields will give people a tactile and visual warning so that they don’t slip off the platform. The tactile warning strips indicate where the doors will open.
• Metro will handle snow clearance at the stations. Some of the platform edges and ramps will have heated concrete. This snow melt system will keep the ramps and platform edges free of snow and ice during smaller events, and prevent snow and ice build up in general. 
• The new electronic fare system includes an audible and braille display, additional payment options and  aneasy to use tap system onboard. Metro staff will be available this summer to provide training and answer questions on how to use the new system. Look for additional information available soon.

*Continental crosswalks are longitudinal stripes designated where to walk across the road. These high visibility markings provide a visual cue for people who drive and bike of where to expect crossing pedestrians.