Transit Program for People with Disabilities

Celebrates One-Millionth Ride

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 7 – People with disabilities from throughout Pennsylvania joined legislative leaders and public transportation leaders from the state Department of Transportation and other agencies today to mark the one-millionth ride in the Rural Transportation Program for Persons with Disabilities (PWD).  The program provides accessible, affordable door-to-door transportation on shared ride vehicles.

“This is a momentous day for thousands of people with disabilities in Pennsylvania.  It marks the one millionth time that a person with a disability traveled someplace - work, school, doctor’s office, store – that would likely have been impossible without the program and the funding to provide it”, said Bob Schmitt of the Transportation Advocacy Project.

The program, frequently referred to as PWD shared ride, began as a pilot in 2001 and was gradually expanded to more counties due in part to the continued advocacy of people with disabilities.  All 65 eligible counties had the program by last year.  Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties have other programs.

The celebration event on the state Capitol East Wing Plaza featured the arrival of Russ Lauderbaugh on a shared ride vehicle from Washington County.  Lauderbaugh took the first ride in the program’s history in 2001.  He continues to use the program, taking three trips a week for medical care.  Also making the trip to Harrisburg was Lisa Yeager who took the one millionth ride in program history.  She uses the Union/Snyder Transportation Program.

“Every time I see a person using a wheelchair boarding a transportation van, I smile. I think of the efforts of the Transportation Alliance, champion legislators like our own Bill DeWeese and Barry Stout, statewide advocates like John Tassone, but most of all I think about how proud people like Jane Walters and Jimmy Clark would be had they lived to see this day,” said John Lorence, of the Pennsylvania Transportation Alliance which advocates for transportation options for people with disabilities

PennDOT administers the program by providing grants to local transportation providers to offer door-to-door transportation on shared ride buses.  Data shows that nearly 50 percent of all trips are related to employment.

“When people think ‘mass transit’ they tend to only think about buses and trains in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but for tens of thousands of people in the other 65 counties in Pennsylvania, programs like this one are a literal lifeline, and today’s millionth ride is

proof that they are complete success stories that deserve support,” said House Majority Whip Keith McCall.

People with disabilities continue to work closely with PennDOT to ensure the program is adequately meeting the needs of its riders.

“As part of Governor Rendell’s commitment to improved transportation for Pennsylvania, we at PennDOT were pleased to work with our partners in the Legislature and the disability community to expand this critical service,” said Toby Fauver, PennDOT’s Deputy Secretary for Local and Area Transportation. “This program provides an important segment of our communities with links to education, medical care, jobs and social contacts, ensuring they have opportunities to enjoy life. Celebrating the Rural Transportation for Persons with Disabilities program is certainly a wonderful occasion.”

Disability advocates fought for decades for a program to provide accessible, affordable transportation.  They gained many allies on both sides of the aisle in the legislature and among public transit officials including Stephen Bland, CEO of the Port Authority of Allegheny County and former chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association Board of Directors. 

"Since its inception, the PWD program has not only proven to be a godsend for the mobility needs of thousands of Pennsylvanians, it has bolstered Pennsylvania's reputation for having the nation's most well-coordinated public transportation system,” said Bland. 

Before the program was created many people with disabilities had to rely on the Shared-Ride program for senior citizens, which can cost as much as $20 to go a short distance or face no transportation options at all. 

Following the rally, the disability advocates will meet in the state Capitol to discuss ways to improve that access to public transportation by people with disabilities.

The Millionth Ride Celebration is sponsored by PA Transportation Alliance, in cooperation with Center for Independent Living Opportunities, Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, Governor's Cabinet and Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, Pennsylvania State Independent Living Council and Transportation Advocacy Project.  Additional support was provided by Rep. Eugene DePasquale, Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living, Transportation Advocacy Project, Pepsi Bottling Company of Harrisburg.

Editors: photos from today’s event can be emailed to you upon request

###